NASIRIYAH, Iraq, Aug 22 (AFP) - Kidnapped US journalist Micah Garen was released Sunday in good health and was in the custody of government officials in Iraq`s southern city of Nasiriyah, a local official said.
Garen and his translator were brought to the local offices of militia leader Moqtada Sadr, before being taken by the radical cleric`s aides to the governorate offices, Adwan al-Shurafei told AFP.
Sadr officials had opened talks with the kidnappers four days ago to secure 36-year-old Garen`s release, Surafei said.
"The two men are in very good health," he added.
Aws al-Khafaji, head of Sadr`s office in Nasiriyah, earlier told Al-Jazeera television that the kidnappers had wanted to use Garen as a pawn to stop a US-led Iraqi offensive against Shiite militiamen in the holy city of Najaf.
"I am very thankful to al-Sadr, the office of al-Sadr for what they did for me and I am very happy," Garen told the Arabic satellite channel through a translator.
"I want to thank all those who worked for my protection and my release. I thank my friends here in Nasiriyah, and I thank my family and my fiancee," he said.
Asked about the conditions of his abduction, Garen was quoted as saying: "As we were walking through the market, spending time before going to work, I had a small camera with which I was taking some pictures ... there was a misunderstanding."
Khafaji said Sadr had intervened and called for Garen`s release as "a message of peace" and because hostage-taking was against Islam.
He also praised Garen for having "helped to uncover the truth" about an incident involving Italian troops whom the journalist had accused of having opened fire on an ambulance during a clash with Shiite militiamen.
Four people, including a pregnant woman, were killed in the incident.
It was unclear if the translator on the telephone with al-Jazeera was Amir Doshe, who was kidnapped with Garen on August 14 in the Nasiriyah market.
Al-Jazeera reported on Wednesday that a group calling itself the "Martyrs Squad" had threatened to kill Garen unless US forces withdrew from Najaf within 48 hours.
Garen, 36, is the founder of Four Corners Media of New York and Colorado, a company that produces documentary videos, photos and text.