ANKARA, Sept. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Three Turkish engineers who were kidnapped about two months ago in Iraq were freed, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported on Tuesday.

   The three who were freed by insurgents on Monday in Beyji, east of Baghdad, returned to Turkey via Habur border gate, the report said.

   Fatih Yigit, one of the engineers, said they were kidnapped on July 16, 2005, adding "the insurgents who kidnapped us threatened to decapitate us every night and they wanted all Turkish companies to end their business relations with US forces. They wanted our company to withdraw from Iraq."

   Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul indicated that the release of three Turkish hostages in Iraq was a pleasing development.

   It was reported on Monday that a Turkish businessman, who was kidnapped by armed insurgents, was freed in Iraq after his family paid a ransom of 200,000 US dollars.

   Turks have frequently fallen victims to the persistent violence in Iraq, where insurgents often resort to hostage-taking in an attempt to drive out foreign forces and companies. Enditem