Aussie hostage freed in Iraq

2005-06-15 12:47

Sydney - Australian hostage Douglas Wood has been rescued from his captors in Iraq after a six-week ordeal, announced Prime Minister John Howard on Wednesday.

Howard told parliament that Wood was in the hands of the Australian authorities in Baghdad and was undergoing medical checks, but was well.

Howard said: "I am delighted to inform the house the Australian hostage in Iraq, Mr Douglas Wood, is safe from his captors."

Howard gave no details of the military operation, which obtained Wood's release.

Australia sent an emergency response team to Baghdad after Wood, 63, a United States-based contractor, was seized in late April by a rebel group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq.

The group initially demanded Australia pull its troops out of Iraq in exchange for Wood's life, but the demand was rejected and was then apparently dropped by the militants.

He was the first Australian taken hostage in Iraq, where there about 900 Australian troops stationed.

- AFP