American contractor freed in Iraq

One of five American contractors detained in Iraq has been released, the US Embassy in Baghdad said today.

An embassy official said the man was released late last night. He said the other four remained in custody for the time being.

The contractors were detained by US-backed Iraqi forces during an investigation into the slaying of another American contractor.

Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh has said that all five would be released.

The case has been seen as the first test of a provision in a US-Iraqi security pact that lifted the immunity US contractors had enjoyed for most of the six-year-old war.