Hallelujah - CBS Journo kidnapped in Iraq found

This is a great news. Man, I never thought we'd see this guy again.

Iraqi forces storm hideout and free Richard Butler, CBS Journalist.

A British photojournalist kidnapped two months ago in Basra was set free today in a dramatic rescue by Iraqi soldiers who stormed a house where he was being held captive with a hood over his head.

Richard Butler, who appeared to be in good health, thanked his rescuers and said that he was looking forward to seeing his family and friends.

"The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and then burst through the door,” Mr Butler told Iraqi state television.

“I had my hood on which I had to have on all the time, and they shouted something at me and I pulled my hood off."

He was found in Basra...

An Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman described how soldiers from the 14th division of the Iraqi army targeted a suspect house at about midday as part of a series of operations that are taking place across the city.

“They were confronted by heavy fire,” said Major-General Mohammed al-Askari. “The group was organised and the confrontation went for about 30 minutes,” he told The Times by phone from Basra.

One man was arrested, while another was wounded in the exchange. He was evacuated by the rest of the group, which fled the scene in a vehicle.

“Then the troops went into the house and found the British journalist inside and rescued him,” Major-General Askari added.

The house was in the area of Jubayla, about five kilometres from Basra city centre.

Thanking God for answered prayers.

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