Forces free four hostages in Iraq

FOUR hostages, three Italian and one Polish, held by insurgents in Iraq since early April were freed by coalition forces yesterday.

"Regarding the freeing of the hostages in Iraq, there were no negotiations and it was an action without bloodshed," Italy's Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said in Rome.

Meanwhile, the head of the Polish troops in Iraq, Mieczyslaw Bieniek, said "special units" of the US-led coalition freed Polish national Jerzy Kos, along with the three Italians.

He did not give further details of the operation.

Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said the Italian hostages would arrive home in Italy today.

"The news of the hostages' release came as I was flying to the US and was welcomed with applause, I cannot be but happy," Berlusconi said.

Francesco Cupertino, a brother of one of the Italian hostages, said he was "overjoyed" at the news.

"I have to say thank you, thank you. My joy is immense," he said.

Three Italian security guards Maurizio Agliana, 37, Umberto Cupertino, 35, and Salvatore Stefio, 34 had been held hostage since April 12. A fourth man, Fabrizio Quattrocchi, 36, who was kidnapped the same day, was killed by his captors two days later.

"Special units have freed the Polish national Jerzy Kos. His life and health are no longer in danger," Bieniek said.

The contractor was kidnapped in Baghdad a week ago, hours after Iraq's new interim government was unveiled.

Poland, a staunch US supporter in the war, heads a 6,500-strong multinational force south of Baghdad. Many Polish companies are engaged in reconstruction projects there.