Turkish, Egyptian Hostages Freed in Iraq
Thursday, June 17, 2004
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BAGHDAD, Iraq — Two truck drivers — a Turk and an Egyptian — were released and handed over to an Iraqi journalist Thursday, weeks after being kidnapped near the restive city of Fallujah (search).
Truck drivers Bulent Yanik of Turkey and Victor Tawfiq Gerges of Egypt were taken hostage while hauling supplies from Kuwait to Iraq for the U.S.-run coalition.
The two were released and handed over to the head of a Turkish news agency in Baghdad on Thursday near Fallujah, 40 miles west of the capital, Baghdad. The journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said he handed the drivers over to Turkish diplomats in Baghdad.
Turkey's Embassy here declined to comment.
Last week, the kidnappers had threatened to kill the drivers, but later they said that the decision was postponed. They called instead on Turks and Egyptians to hold demonstrations to denounce the U.S. presence in Iraq.
It was unclear whether ransom was paid for their release.
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