Syrian, Lebanese Hostages Freed In Iraq: Relative

TRIPOLI, Lebanon, Aug 16 (AFP) - One Syrian and two Lebanese truck-drivers, kidnapped in Iraq on August 6, were freed by their captors Monday, the mother of one of them told AFP.
"My son telephoned me from Iraq and told me that he had been released by his kidnappers, along with his two colleagues, Taha Jundi and Khaldun Othman," said Khadijeh Hamad Issa, mother of Syrian hostage Osama Issa.
"He told me they were returning to Lebanon by road and would soon arrive at the Iraqi border with Syria."
Two other Lebanese truck-drivers kidnapped with them -- Qassem Merqbawi and Jundi's brother Nasser -- were freed last Tuesday, the same day as a Lebanese businessman.
There was no word on the circumstances surrounding any of the releases.
Lebanon has been hard hit by the wave of kidnappings targeting foreign workers perceived as assisting the US-led military presence in Iraq.
Some 15 of its nationals have been taken hostage so far and one, a telecommunications company employee, was beheaded in June.