Kidnapped journalist freed in Iraq

A French television journalist kidnapped in Iraq as he was filming an American military convoy under attack has been freed, his company said today.

Capa Television in Paris said Alexandre Jordanov, who was seized on Sunday, has been released but gave no further details.

Earlier, French President Jacques Chirac strongly condemned the hostage-taking in Iraq and said he was very worried about the situation there.

Jordanov, 40, disappeared south of Baghdad while travelling with cameraman Ivan Ceriex, who was kidnapped separately and released on Monday. The two were separated after fleeing in different directions for cover.

Ceriex was picked up by a group of armed Sunni fighters and was released after he convinced his kidnappers that he was French.

France opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq last year and has no troops participating in the occupation.