'Kidnapped' marine returns to US

A US marine who went missing in Iraq before surfacing in Lebanon has arrived back in the US after spending time in a military hospital in Germany.

Lebanese-born Cpl Wassef Ali Hassoun was taken to the US Marine Corps base at Quantico, near Washington DC, after flying into the country.

During his disappearance, Cpl Hassoun appeared blindfolded in a video, and at one point was declared to be dead.

The US Navy says it is investigating whether the whole episode was a hoax.

In a statement issued before he left Germany, Cpl Hassoun said he was "excited" at the prospect of flying home to the US.

"I am in good health and spirits, I look forward to my return home to friends and family," he added.

'Romantic liaison'

The Arabic-speaking translator of Lebanese origin disappeared from his base in the Iraqi city of Falluja on 20 June.

He was initially labelled as missing, but his status was changed to "captured" after video footage emerged showing him blindfolded.

He was claimed to have been seized by the Islamic Retaliation Movement - Armed Resistance Wing after leaving his base for a romantic liaison.

After reports and then denials of his beheading appeared on militant websites, he was said to have been released after promising never to rejoin the US army.

He eventually turned himself in at the US embassy in Beirut, two-and-a-half weeks after going missing.

It is unclear how he made it from Iraq to Lebanon - where he has relatives - 800km (500 miles) away.