Freed Italian hostages return home

Three Italian security guards who were held hostage for two months in Iraq returned home today to a joyous welcome at a Rome airport.

One of the former hostages gave a thumbs-up sign after being hugged by a relative on the tarmac of Ciampino airport.

The father of another hostage greeted his son by kneeling on the tarmac and clutching the Italian flag in one hand.

In a bloodless commando raid on Baghdad’s outskirts, coalition forces yesterday freed the three Italians and a Polish businessman who was kidnapped last week.