Hostages Rescued in Iraq

mathew51b · Mar 24, 2006

Special forces have freed British hostage Norman Kember and two peace activist colleagues in an operation in Iraq.

Mr Kember was in "reasonable condition" and was recovering in the high-security Green Zone in Baghdad following his release. Mr Kember's wife Pat was said to be "delighted" and "elated" at the happy ending to the 118-day kidnap ordeal.

British forces were involved in the operation in the town of Mishahda, about 20 miles north of Baghdad.

Mr Kember, a retired professor, was seized during a peace mission to Baghdad on November 26. The 74-year-old grandfather, a former medical physicist at a teaching hospital, from Pinner, north-west London, was visiting the country with Christian Peacemaker Teams, a Canada-based international peace group.
The other men were Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and an American, Tom Fox, 54. Mr Fox was found shot dead in Baghdad earlier this month in the affluent Mansour district. There were signs that he had been beaten before being killed and the grim news raised the prospect that Mr Kember might meet the same fate.

The news that he had been successfully freed earlier was greeted with delight. The Rev Alan Betteridge, a friend of Mr Kember for more than 40 years, said: "We are immensely relieved and thankful, especially after the death of Tom Fox, which made us very fearful ... We have been praying for them every day."

Fellow peace campaigner Bruce Kent, who has been involved in weekly vigils for his release since his capture, said "this is news beyond belief. In this awful mess of Baghdad thank God there is one bright light anyway."

Speaking in London, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said the men were freed in a multi-national operation. He said: "British forces were involved in this operation. It follows weeks and weeks of very careful work by our military and coalition personnel in Iraq and many civilians as well."

The Ministry of Defence confirmed that British troops had played a "prominent role" in the rescue operation. But a spokesman declined to comment on reports that soldiers from the SAS were involved.

"We can confirm that the operation was carried out by multi-national forces including British forces," said the MoD. "British forces did play a prominent role in the rescue."

source, http://uk.news.yahoo.com/23032006/344/british-hostage-norman-kember-freed.html
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well this was yesterday, but havent seen anything from anyone on here about it, so yus. Does anyone know where the other two hostages freed were from?

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Hostages Rescued in Iraq

mathew51b Well-Known Member

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Hostages Rescued in Iraq

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