3 Japanese Hostages released in Baghdad--NHK/NTV/al Jareeza

[Zech Marquis]

I'm trying to find a link, but the news just flashd on the Yomiuri headline, no article yet...

Yahoo has an article in english, here's what I had a moment before:

http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/main/news/20040415it13.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Wow! Now that's great news. Thanks a lot. n/t

[Flagg]

2. great news if confirmed

[Quetzal]

3. It's on the front page of Al-Jazeera

no article yet

http://english.aljazeera.net/HomePage

[Quetzal]

4. Article

Report: Japanese Hostages Freed in Iraq
5 minutes ago

CAIRO, Egypt - Three Japanese hostages were released Thursday in Iraq (news - web sites), Japanese television and the pan-Arab network Al-Jazeera reported.

Al-Jazeera, monitored in Cairo, said the two aid workers and a journalist were in Baghdad and free as "the guests of Muslim scholars." It gave no further details.

The Japanese government confirmed the release, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported.

Three Japanese civilians were taken hostage in Iraq last week by militants who threatened to kill them unless Japan withdraws its non-combat troops from southern Iraq. Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi had refused, insisting the soldiers will complete their humanitarian mission.

http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040415/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_japan_1

[maddezmom]

5. good news~ CNNI showing video now

:)

[Zech Marquis]

6. I've heard that CNN I

actually shows and reports the news as it is, NOT the watered down, knuckleedned mindset of the flagship..is that true? :evilgrin:

[stellanoir]

7. phew. . .

I was really worried about those three especially the 18 year old kid who went to Iraq to investigate incidents of depleted uranium contamination. So unfair that the real perps of this travesty in Iraq profit in comfort and security with assured impunity while so droves of innocents suffer so tragically.

[Art_from_Ark]

8. Japanese radio confirms the release of the three hostages

and two other Japanese hostages (a freelance journalist and an NGO worker) are said to have been released as well, although nothing is official on that yet.