FALLUJAH, Iraq, June 1 (AFP) - Islamic militant kidnappers on Wednesday released seven truck drivers held hostage in Iraq for six weeks, an AFP correspondent witnessed in the rebel-dominated western city of Fallujah.
The hostages --- three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian -- were set free by a group calling itself the Black Banners Brigade of the Secret Islamic Army (SIA) and then gave interviews on al-Arabiya television.
The seven, who were seized on July 21, appeared happy and healthy as they spoke at length with the Dubai-based channel.
Asked how they were treated, Egyptian hostage Mohammed Sanad told Arabiya: "They taught us religion and how to pray."
All seven truck drivers were then whisked to the Indian embassy in Baghdad and then to the airport, a source at the embassy said.
The kidnappers declared victory, boasting that they had forced the hostages Kuwaiti employer to leave Iraq and vowing to carry out more attacks on anyone assisting US troops.
"After our demands have been met by forcing the Kuwaiti company, which is transporting goods to the infidel Americans, to withdraw from Iraq, we have decided to release the seven hostages held by us.
"We swear by God not to be merciful with those who help the occupier and we vow to strike them with an iron fist," the statement said.
The truck drivers' employer, the Kuwait Gulf and Link (KGL) company, announced August 27 it had decided to stop working in Iraq in response to the kidnappers' demands.
In Cairo, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ahmed Abu al-Gheit confirmed the release of an Egyptian national.
"Egypt favourably welcomes the release of the Egyptian hostage and thanks all those who contributed to their liberation," he said in a statement.
The number two diplomat at the Egyptian embassy in Baghdad, Kareem Sharafeddin told Arabiya that they had been lucky to free the men from SIA, a group that has been implicated in other abductions.
"Thank God, we have been successful in convincing them that the guys had nothing to do with what was going on in Iraq," he said.
At least 100 foreigners have been kidnapped by insurgents in Iraq since April as rebels look to hobble reconstruction efforts and derail the country's new government.