Captured US soldiers freed

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.

Clad in an assortment of pyjamas and shorts, the soldiers clambered out of helicopters to a delighted welcome at an air base in southern Iraq, hours after their release.

The seven were taken by helicopter to a base near Kut and flown to a military airport south of Kuwait City. They "are in good shape," although two have gunshot wounds, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said.