Iraqi militia free two Turkish hostages

Iraqi insurgents holding two Turkish hostages have freed them, according to the Turkish embassy in Baghdad.

Iraqi insurgents holding two Turkish hostages have freed them, according to the Turkish embassy in Baghdad.

The militants said in video footage released earlier today  the captives were being released after promising to stop working for US forces in Iraq.

The video footage showed the two Turks kneeling in a room and vowing not to work with US forces as masked gunmen stood above them. The militia then read a statement saying the men were being released.

The two Turks, Soner Sercali and Murat Kizil, are employees of Turkish firm Kayteks.  The company announced earlier this week it would stop doing business with US forces in Iraq.

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"They treated us well and we were not subjected to torture or abuse," Kizil said.

One of the two gunmen in the footage had an AK-47 assault rifle and a pistol, and the other had a rifle.

Earlier this week, three other Turkish hostages were freed by militants who had threatened to behead them.

Dozens of foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq by militant groups. Some have been killed and others released. It is not clear how many foreigners are still being held.