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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| British journalist freed in Iraq | British journalist freed in Iraq |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A British journalist has been rescued by Iraqi forces after being held hostage for more than two months. | A British journalist has been rescued by Iraqi forces after being held hostage for more than two months. |
| Richard Butler, who works for the US television network CBS, was found in a house in Basra with a sack over his head, said the Iraqi defence ministry. | |
| Mr Butler described how the Iraqi Army stormed the house he was at, overcoming his guards and rushing him away. | Mr Butler described how the Iraqi Army stormed the house he was at, overcoming his guards and rushing him away. |
| He and his Iraqi interpreter were seized in Basra in February. The interpreter was freed three days later. | He and his Iraqi interpreter were seized in Basra in February. The interpreter was freed three days later. |
| 'Hooded' | 'Hooded' |
| Mr Butler said: "Thank you and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and my friends at CBS - and thank you again. | Mr Butler said: "Thank you and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and my friends at CBS - and thank you again. |
| "The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and they burst through the door - and I had my hood on, which I had to have on all the time. | "The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and they burst through the door - and I had my hood on, which I had to have on all the time. |
| "They shouted something at me and I pulled my hood off...and they ran me down the road." | "They shouted something at me and I pulled my hood off...and they ran me down the road." |
| A CBS News spokeswoman said: "We are incredibly grateful that our colleague, Richard Butler, has been released and is safe." | A CBS News spokeswoman said: "We are incredibly grateful that our colleague, Richard Butler, has been released and is safe." |
| Journalists killed | Journalists killed |
| Witnesses said Mr Butler and his interpreter were taken from the Sultan Palace Hotel in Basra, southern Iraq, by at least eight gunmen on 10 February. | Witnesses said Mr Butler and his interpreter were taken from the Sultan Palace Hotel in Basra, southern Iraq, by at least eight gunmen on 10 February. |
| That month local news reports said Mr Butler's release had been delayed because his kidnappers feared future arrest. | That month local news reports said Mr Butler's release had been delayed because his kidnappers feared future arrest. |
| Mr Butler is a married photojournalist with experience of covering conflicts around the world. | Mr Butler is a married photojournalist with experience of covering conflicts around the world. |
| International media watchdogs have reported dozens of journalists killed each year since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. | International media watchdogs have reported dozens of journalists killed each year since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. |