Iraq

Egyptian hostage free; Philippines pulls out

BAGHDAD - An Egyptian truck driver held captive for two weeks by insurgents in Iraq was freed Monday, just hours after the Philippines withdrew the last of its 51 peacekeepers in a bid to save the life of a Filipino man held by a different group.

Alsayeid Mohammed Alsayeid Algarabawi, whose capture was first reported July 6 in a video showing him surrounded by masked gunmen, was brought to the Egyptian Embassy in Baghdad on Monday. He appeared healthy.

Algarabawi said he was fed well, allowed to pray and treated in "an Islamic manner, 100 percent."

Algarabawi's captors, the Iraqi Legitimate Resistance, never threatened to harm him but made demands on his Saudi company, including asking for $1-million ransom and insisting it stop doing business in Iraq.

The Al-Jarie Transport company refused to pay the ransom but agreed to end its business in Iraq, said Faisal al-Naheet, a subcontractor speaking on behalf of the firm.

As Algarabawi walked free, Philippine officials waited for word on the fate of truck driver Angelo dela Cruz. Kidnappers holding dela Cruz demanded the Manila government pull its 51 peacekeepers from Iraq earlier than their scheduled Aug. 20 departure or else they would kill him.

The government complied in phases, with the last soldiers driving into neighboring Kuwait at about 5 p.m. Monday.

Earlier, the troops made an "exit call" on the Polish commander at their base in Hillah, south of Baghdad, and lowered the Philippine flag at their quarters.

A Philippine official said the withdrawal completes their promise, and the country is now waiting for the militants to fulfill theirs.

World and national headlines

© 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times 490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 Contact the Times | Privacy Policy Standard of Accuracy | Terms, Conditions & Copyright