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| Turkish hostages held by IS in Iraq released | Turkish hostages held by IS in Iraq released |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Some 49 Turkish hostages seized by Islamic State (IS) in the north Iraqi city of Mosul in June are now back in Turkey, PM Ahmet Davutoglu says. | |
| The hostages included diplomats and their families as well as soldiers. | The hostages included diplomats and their families as well as soldiers. |
| They were seized from Turkey's consulate after IS militants seized Mosul in a rapid advance in June. | They were seized from Turkey's consulate after IS militants seized Mosul in a rapid advance in June. |
| Turkey has refused direct involvement in the military campaign against IS partly because of fears over the hostages' safety. | Turkey has refused direct involvement in the military campaign against IS partly because of fears over the hostages' safety. |
| Mr Davutoglu said they were released early on Saturday. | |
| They were being taken to the southern Turkish city of Sanliurfa by the Turkish intelligence agency. | |
| IS has seized large areas of Iraq and Syria. Estimates say the group could have up to 30,000 fighters. |