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Iraqi officials: Three Americans kidnapped in Baghdad are freed Iraqi officials: Three Americans kidnapped in Baghdad are freed
(35 minutes later)
BAGHDAD — Three Americans who were kidnapped in the Iraqi capital a month ago have been freed, Iraqi officials said. BAGHDAD — Three Americans who were kidnapped in the Iraqi capital a month ago have been freed, Iraqi officials and the State Department said.
An Iraqi security official said he was "100 percent sure" that the hostages had been released after being held by an "armed group.”An Iraqi security official said he was "100 percent sure" that the hostages had been released after being held by an "armed group.”
Saad al-Hadithi, a spokesman for the prime minister's office, confirmed that they had been handed over to the U.S. Embassy but said he had no further details. Saad al-Hadithi, a spokesman for the prime minister’s office, confirmed that they had been released but said he had no further details.
The Americans — two men and a woman who were working as contractors — were seized in the Dora neighborhood in southern Baghdad in an apartment the Iraqi police described as "suspicious." Shiite militias have a strong presence in the area, leading to suspicions that such a group was behind the abduction.The Americans — two men and a woman who were working as contractors — were seized in the Dora neighborhood in southern Baghdad in an apartment the Iraqi police described as "suspicious." Shiite militias have a strong presence in the area, leading to suspicions that such a group was behind the abduction.
The security official, who declined to be named as he was speaking ahead of an official announcement, claimed that the Peace Brigades — a Shiite militia headed by Moqtada al-Sadr — “helped release them.” Zamili is also a commander in the Peace Brigades — a Shiite militia headed by Moqtada al-Sadr. He claimed that the "Sadrists helped release them." The State Department “welcomes the news that the Government of Iraq has secured the release of three U.S. citizens who were reported as missing in January,” it said in a statement. “We sincerely appreciate the assistance provided by the Government of Iraq, and its whole-of-government effort to bring about the safe release of these individuals.”
The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad did not immediately return calls seeking comment. The security official, who declined to be named as he was speaking ahead of an official announcement, claimed that the Peace Brigades — a Shiite militia headed by Moqtada al-Sadr — “helped release them.”
Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.Mustafa Salim contributed to this report.