I believe a ransom was paid, says released hostage

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http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=1&ObjectID=10375387

Freed hostage Harmeet Sooden has said he believes a ransom was paid for his release.

Mr Sooden, who was held captive in Iraq for four months, said today that he and his fellow hostages thought their rescue was "contrived".

The Auckland student, who is a Canadian citizen, said he was grateful to the New Zealand and Canadian authorities for their assistance, but said the invasion and occupation of Iraq were "illegal" and the New Zealand government was complicit in that.

Mr Sooden, 32, a member of activist organisation the Christian Peacemakers Teams (CPT), described how he and his two fellow captives were released on March 24. He said they heard unusual noises and then an English accent demanding the door be opened.

Within moments British soldiers were cutting them free. Another soldier wearing a mask removed it to show he was an Iraqi, a move Mr Sooden said he thought was supposed to indicate the Iraqis were involved in the rescue.

His captors were "nowhere to be seen" during the release, which was "highly unusual", he said.