Kidnapped Chinese Man Released in Iraq

[RoyGBiv]

Kidnapped Chinese Man Released in Iraq

By LOUIS MEIXLER, Associated Press Writer

BAGHDAD, Iraq - A leading Sunni cleric said Friday that kidnappers have released a Chinese citizen abducted in Iraq (news - web sites) and that the man is safely in the Chinese Embassy.

The Chinese man was kidnapped on Wednesday, Muthanna Harith said at a press conference.

"The Chinese Embassy confirmed to us that the Chinese hostage who was kidnapped the day before yesterday was released and he arrived safely at the Chinese Embassy," said Harith, a member of the Islamic Clerics Committee, the highest Sunni organization in Iraq.

The committee earlier had worked for the release of three Japanese hostages, who were freed Thursday and brought to the committee's office in Baghdad.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=540&e=1&u=/ap/20040416/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_kidnappings

[Judi Lynn]

1. This article leaves room for hope for these people

It would be great to see more of them going home, too.

From the article:

The Arab television station Al-Jazeera showed the three Japanese who were released being served tea at the clerics' office upon their release. Aid worker Nahoko Takato broke down in tears, and one of the clerics — wearing traditional robes and a headscarf — spoke to her gently.

Takato, fellow aid worker Noriaki Imai and Soichiro Koriyama appeared to be in good health. Interviewed by Al-Jazeera, Takato and Koriyama said they want to return to Iraq despite the kidnapping.

"I will continue (aid work in Iraq)," Takato said. "I've been through many shocking events and I'm exhausted, but I still can't dislike Iraqi people."