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3 hostages freed by rebels enter Jordan
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-02-23 08:54

Two Indonesian journalists and their Jordanian driver freed by militants in Iraq crossed safely into neighboring Jordan on Tuesday, an Indonesia Embassy official said.

Meutya Viada Hafid, 26, and 36-year-old cameraman Budiyanto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, and driver Ibrahim Abdel Khader were abducted last week by militants outside Ramadi, a volatile city west of Baghdad.

Two Indonesian journalists freed from militants in Iraq, Meutya Viada Hafid, right, and Budiyanto, who like many Indonesians goes by one name, wave after a press conference at the Indonesian Embassy in Amman, Jordan on Tuesday, Feb 22, 2005. [AP]

Militants in a videotape received Monday by the Associated Press Television News in Baghdad said the three were released because of the "goodwill" shown by the captives and religious ties. Indonesia, the world's most populous Muslim country, was critical of the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq and has refused to send troops.

"We are absolutely delighted that all the hard work has brought a positive outcome, namely the freeing and the evacuation of the Indonesian hostages," Indonesian Foreign Ministry spokesman Marty Natalegawa said in Jakarta, the Indonesian capital.

Hafid, Budiyanto and Abdel Khader had been waiting on the Iraqi side of the border with Jordan since Monday because the border was closed by the Iraqi government for the Shiite Ashoura holiday.

The three have said they were abducted by three men, including one with an assault rifle, while refueling their vehicle.

Hafid said she asked her abductors if they were supporters of Saddam Hussein and they replied that they were "not working for Saddam" but "working for Islam."

The three said they were treated well and their captors did not touch or harm them. They thanked Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono for helping to arrange their release.

Hafid said they would return to Indonesia on Wednesday.

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