Filipino hostage 'coming home'

A Filipino truck driver being held hostage by insurgents in Iraq said today he was coming home soon and thanked his government for agreeing to withdraw its peacekeepers from the country, according to video shown on Al-Jazeera television station.

In the video, Angelo dela Cruz was no longer wearing the bright orange garment he had worn in previous videos.

Other hostages killed by insurgents had been wearing a similar garment in videos showing their deaths.

Dela Cruz told his family not to worry about him, pointing out that he had changed clothing, an apparent sign that he is no longer under threat of execution.

His voice was not audible on the television station the newsreader narrated the video.