A British journalist has been rescued by Iraqi forces after being held hostage for more than two months.

Richard Butler, who works for the US television network CBS, was found in a house in Basra with a sack over his head, said the Iraqi defence ministry.

Mr Butler described how the Iraqi Army stormed the house he was at, overcoming his guards and rushing him Iraqi forces free British journalist in military raid ...
Iraqi army show of force in Basra ...
British Army joins Basra fighting ...
Basra imposes night-time curfew ...
US troops killed in northern Iraq ...
Two Czech soldiers in Basra injured in rocket attack ... away.

He and his Iraqi interpreter were seized in Basra in February. The interpreter was freed three days later.

Mr Butler appeared on Iraqi television looking tired but relieved after his release from a house in the Jibiliya neighbourhood of Basra.

He said: "Thank you and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and my friends at CBS - and thank you again.

"The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and they burst through the door - and I had my hood on, which I had to have on all the time.

"They shouted something at me and I pulled my hood off...and they ran me down the road."

The troops were fired on by four men, three of whom escaped, the other was captured, the BBC's Crispin Thorold said.

According to a spokesman for the Iraqi ministry of defence, Mr Butler was found with his hands tied behind his back and a hood over his head.

A CBS News spokeswoman said: "We are incredibly grateful that our colleague, Richard Butler, has been released and is safe."

Witnesses said Mr Butler and his interpreter were taken from the Sultan Palace Hotel in Basra by at least eight gunmen on 10 February.

That month local news reports said Mr Butler's release had been delayed because his kidnappers feared future arrest.

Mr Butler is a married photojournalist with experience of covering conflicts around the world.

International media watchdogs have reported dozens of journalists killed each year since the US invasion of Iraq in 2003.

(BBC)

<< Back