US forces have rescued four Egyptians kidnapped in Iraq when they stormed the house where they were being held, the chairman of an Egyptian mobile telephone company.
told Egyptian television this evening.
Mr Naguib Sawiris, chairman of Orascom Telecom, said the four Egyptians were safe and the company had contacted their families to inform them that they were free.
Meanwhile, an Iraqi group claiming to hold an Italian journalist kidnapped in Iraq has said this evening it will release her soon because they accept she is not a spy.
A statement on an Islamist Web site said: "Since it has become absolutely clear that the Italian prisoner is not involved in espionage for the infidels in Iraq, and in response to the call from the Muslim Clerics Assocation, we in the Jihad Organisation will release the Italian prisoner in the coming days."
Giuliana Sgrena, a reporter with the communist newspaper Il Manifesto, was threatened with death by the end of the day. The militants were insisting Italy must withdraw its 3,000 troops from Iraq or else Ms Sgrena would be killed.