German Iraq hostages freed
Iraq-Germany, Local, 5/3/2006

Two German technicians who were freed in Iraq after a three-month hostage ordeal, arrived safely in Berlin on Wednesday afternoon.

German television showed video footages of Rene Braeunlich and Thomas Nitzschke as they were getting off a special charter plane which had flown them from Baghdad via Munich to Berlin.

Addressing the press on the tarmac, Braeunlich and Nitzschke thanked the German government for their efforts to secure their release.

While German officials kept silent on revealing details of their release, Iraq's ambassador to Germany Alaa Al-Hashimy confirmed that a "criminal group" had kidnapped Braeunlich and Nitzschke.

Al-Hashimy added "a lot of money" was paid to obtain their freedom but did not say who paid the ransom.

The German government has refused to say whether a ransom was paid to secure the release of the hostages who are from the east German city of Leipzig.

Braeunlich and Nitzschke were kidnapped on January 24 in the northern Iraqi town of Baiji, while on their way to do contract work at an Iraqi factory.

Berlin has repeatedly called on all German nationals to leave Iraq as soon as possible, citing the worsening security situation in the Middle Eastern country.

Previous Stories:
  Armed men kidnap 16 workers in Baghdad   (3/28/2006)
  al-Arabia correspondent in Iraq killed in explosion   (2/23/2006)
  One million Iraqi Shiite celebrate Ashoura anniversary   (2/10/2006)
  Berlin concerned over fate of its kidnapped in Iraq   (2/2/2006)
  Germany denies its secret service assisted US in Iraq war   (1/12/2006)

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