Egyptian Hostage To Be Released Sunday: Saudi Employer

RIYADH, July 17 (AFP) - An Egyptian hostage being held in Iraq will be released on Sunday, his Saudi employer told AFP Saturday, saying the kidnappers had telephoned him with the announcement.
"The kidnappers called me a few minutes ago saying that they have decided to release him tomorrow morning," said Faisal bin Ali al-Nuheit, whose company carries the same name.
"They will call me tomorrow (Sunday) to inform me of the place" where Sayed Mohammed Sayed al-Garbawi will be set free, Nuheit added.
The company confirmed Friday that it had ended all its operations in Iraq, as demanded by the kidnappers, and withdrew all its vehicles from there.
Al-Nuheit provides trucks and drivers to the Saudi al-Jari transport company, which is licensed to ferry oil shipments to Iraq through the Arar border crossing.
A group holding Garbawi issued a statement late Thursday giving the Saudi employers an extra 48 hours to leave the country and spare his life.
The Egyptian driver was abducted by the Tawhid wal Jihad group (Unification and Holy War) of suspected Al-Qaeda operative Abu Mussab al-Zarqawi, the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television channel said Thursday.