The release of one Egyptian diplomat

Kidnappers from a group calling itself "Assad Allah" released the Egyptian hostage Muhammad Mahmoud Qutob, the advisor at the Egyptian embassy in Iraq. One member of the group said it decided to release the hostage because of his disciplined manners and religious conduct. He indicated that the group refused a large sum of money for releasing him.

Qutob, for his part who returned back to the Egyptian interests office in Baghdad expressed his thanks for every and each one who contributed to his release. Qutob is considered the first diplomat to be kidnapped in Iraq since the wave of kidnapping.