Countless tips from Iraqis about everything from POWs to weapons caches are providing essential information to British and American forces seeking to stabilise the country and unravel its mysteries.

One of the seven US prisoners of war found safe and well said he was convinced his Iraqi captors were going to kill him.

IRAQI troops released seven captured US soldiers - some wounded but in good condition - to US Marines yesterday, a surprise discovery near where troops were entering Saddam Hussein’s hometown of Tikrit.