Australian hostage in Iraq has been freed

[ECH1969]

Douglas Wood, the Australian hostage being held in Iraq, has been freed in a military operation, Prime Minister John Howard says.

Mr Wood, 63, was abducted in Baghdad in late April and on May 1, a militant group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Iraq released a DVD showing him begging for his life.

The government sent a special taskforce to Iraq, headed by prominent diplomat Nick Warner, to work to free Mr Wood. The Mufti of Australia, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, has also been in and around Iraq for a month in an effort to secure Mr Wood's release.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/ArchiveCentreColumn/Australian-hostage-in-Iraq-has-been-released/2005/06/15/1118645861911.html?oneclick=true

[hang a left]

1. Australian held hostage in Iraq rescued

Australian held hostage in Iraq rescued
CTV.ca News Staff

Australian hostage Douglas Wood was freed in a military operation by Iraqi troops backed by U.S. forces, said officials Wednesday.

Iraqi militants in Baghdad have been holding Wood hostage since late April, and threatened to kill him if Australia didn't withdraw its troops from Iraq.

The 64-year-old civil engineer and resident of California is now under the protection of Australian troops in Baghdad, announced Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

"Mr. Wood was recovered a short while ago in Baghdad in a military operation that I am told was conducted by Iraqi forces in cooperation in a general way with force elements of the United States," Howard told Australia's Parliament on Wednesday.



snip>>>

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/1118830599266_55/?hub=TopStories

[interupt]

2. Fantastic news!

but...

He is an Australian living in California we have Australia running around organising recovery teams, muslim clerics on mercy missions and his Australian family willing to pay for his release. What gives?

Mind you, a quick google search on Douglas Wood shows only Aussie media giving a hoot..no wait...Fox news gives a whole two paragraphs about his release.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,159611,00.html

Edit: apologies for linking Fox news.

[pinkpops]

3. Australian Rescued by Iraqi, U.S. Forces

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050615/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_050615144961;_ylt=AvV.sNHW_R2o.cbLau637PVX6GMA;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Iraqi and U.S. forces, acting on a tip, raided a dangerous Sunni neighborhood Wednesday and freed an Australian hostage who was hidden beneath a blanket

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I wonder how much the ransom was?

[Roland99]

4. Interesting choice of words by Howard:

"Mr. Wood was recovered a short while ago in Baghdad in a military operation that I am told was conducted by Iraqi forces in cooperation in a general way with force elements of the United States," Howard said.



Hmmm...