Journos freed in Iraq

2005-05-22 15:12

Bucharest - Three Romanian journalists and their Iraqi-American guide were freed on Sunday after nearly two months held hostage in Iraq, the president's office said.

All four were in the custody of Romanian authorities. "They are unharmed and we will announce to the public when they will return to the country," said Adriana Saftoiu, a spokesperson for President Traian Basescu.

The three Romanians - newspaper reporter Ovidiu Ohanesian, TV reporter Marie-Jeanne Ion and cameraman Sorin Miscoci - were kidnapped in Iraq on March 28, along with their Iraqi-American guide, Mohammed Monaf.

Their kidnappers had threatened to kill the hostages unless Romania pulls its 800 troops out of Iraq.

Basescu has refused to withdraw the troops, saying the country would not negotiate its foreign policy with the kidnappers.

"It's over. The nightmare has ended. We are waiting for them to come home now," said Petre Mihai Bacanu, managing director of Romania Libera, the newspaper that send Ohanesian to Iraq.

- AP