Freed hostage tells of sword ordeal

Death came close for Filipino hostage Angelo dela Cruz, who says Iraqi insurgents at one point sharpened a sword and probed his neck for the right spot to cut.

But his fate changed dramatically when his captors learned that Filipino troops would withdraw from Iraq to meet their demand and the kidnappers let him go, according to statements the 46-year-old truck driver gave to Philippine officials after he was freed in Baghdad.