TURKISH TRUCK DRIVER RELEASED

[Talon]

TRUCK DRIVER RELEASED

Iraqi militants have released a Turkish truck driver who was taken hostage in Iraq.

A senior Turkish diplomat said Medhat Chiwi's release came a day after his employer said it was pulling out of Iraq.

The diplomat, who was speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed an earlier report by Al-Arabiya television.

Chiwi was kidnapped two days ago by a group calling itself the "Islamic Resistance Movement - Noman Brigades".

The group had threatened to behead him unless his firm and other Turkish companies co-operating with US troops pulled out of Iraq within two days.

A Kuwaiti firm - which Chiwi works for through a Turkish contractor - said it had halted operations in Iraq and appealed for his release.

The firm said it had ceased "all operations" in Iraq, and issued a "humanitarian appeal for his family and children" to spare him.

Four Turkish nationals have been executed at the hands of hostage-takers in Iraq.

Several others have been kidnapped and released, mostly after their employers agreed to pull out.

A number of Turkish truckers employed with Kuwaiti companies are now refusing to go in to the country for fear of being taken hostage.

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30200-13215800,00.html