‘Iraqi kidnappers wanted money’

BAGHDAD – Armed Iraqis led by a tribal sheik raided a house in the rebellious city of Falluja and freed four Jordanian hostages without a shot being fired, one of the freed hostages told Reuters yesterday.

And separately, Al Jazeera television reported that a militant group linked to al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had released two Turkish drivers it was holding hostage because their companies had agreed to stop working in Iraq. But one of the released Jordanians, Ahmad Hassan Abu Jaafar, said that the gunmen who kidnapped him and three other drivers outside Falluja nine days ago had been motivated by money.”When the brave people of Falluja knew that we were held hostage they raided the house and rescued us last night.We are all safe,” Jaafar told Reuters by telephone.”No one fired a single shot, not even the kidnappers.”- Nampa-ReutersBut one of the released Jordanians, Ahmad Hassan Abu Jaafar, said that the gunmen who kidnapped him and three other drivers outside Falluja nine days ago had been motivated by money.”When the brave people of Falluja knew that we were held hostage they raided the house and rescued us last night.We are all safe,” Jaafar told Reuters by telephone.”No one fired a single shot, not even the kidnappers.”- Nampa-Reuters