Iraq hostages said to be released

Three Italians and a Polish contractor kidnapped in Iraq have been freed, Polish TV reported today.

But other media reports raised doubts that the Italians were liberated.

TVN24 television quoted General Mieczyslaw Bieniek, the commander of Polish-led multinational forces, as saying that the four foreign hostages had been freed in a military action.

But Poland’s PAP news agency said that while the Polish contractor was free, the three others freed were Kurdish guards who were abducted along with him - not the Italians.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini confirmed the three Italian hostages were free.

The Italian hostages, who were in Iraq as private security guards, were abducted in April.

A fourth Italian abducted with them was murdered shortly after the kidnapping and his body later returned to Italy.