Two Turkish hostages freed in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-07-03 16:42

Two Turkish hostages have been released in Iraq, Turkey's Foreign Ministry in Ankara told CNN.

Image from a video released to the Al-Jazeera television network Saturday June 26, 2004 showing three Turkish men kidnapped by the Tawhid and Jihad movement, allegedly led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. [AP/file]

The two -- released on Friday -- worked for a Turkish firm Kayteks, which manufactures air conditioning units, the ministry said.

Three Turkish citizens held hostage in Iraq were freed last week, after their kidnappers had threatened to behead the men unless Turkish companies stopped doing business with the U.S. military in Iraq.

Those workers attributed their release to their Islamic faith and vowing to never return to the neighboring nation.

Last week, television channels showed the three men -- who worked for companies doing business with U.S. forces in Iraq -- embracing with loved ones in Turkey's southeastern city of Diyarbakir.

The Turks were among dozens of people kidnapped in Iraq in recent months. Most have been freed, but several were slain -- two of whom were beheaded.

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