TWO Italian women aid workers freed in Iraq after being held hostage for three weeks arrived home late last night, as the entire nation celebrated their safe release.

A delegation of British Muslims who travelled to Iraq to press for the release of hostage Ken Bigley said today they were confident the engineer was still alive.

US aircraft blasted the rebel stronghold of Fallujah three times in 24 hours over the weekend in a concerted effort to hit militants loyal to guerrilla chief Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.

Lil Bigley, the 86-year-old mother of captive Ken Bigley, was taken to hospital again this afternoon.