Canadian hostage released in Iraq

A Canadian man who was kidnapped in Iraq has been freed, according to the Ottawa government.

A foreign ministry spokesman said businessman Naji al-Kuwaiti had been released in Baghdad on Tuesday and was apparently in good health.

He added that Mr Kuwaiti was making plans to return to Canada.

Mr Kuwaiti, who holds Iraqi and Canadian citizenship, had been working as an exporter-importer when he was abducted in Baghdad last Wednesday.

He was the third Canadian man to be abducted in the past month.

The foreign ministry spokesman, Patrick Riel, would not comment on a newspaper report which said Mr Kuwaiti's family had agreed to pay a ransom of $50,000 to the unidentified kidnappers.

"We can confirm that Mr al-Kuwaiti was released in Baghdad yesterday. The department of foreign affairs facilitated his safe departure from Iraq earlier today. (He) appears to be well and in good health," said Mr Riel.

"He is making plans to return to Canada...at the request of the family we can't provide any further information."

Canadian officials are still trying to free 41-year-old Muhammad Rifat, who disappeared on 8 April near Baghdad while working on a construction project.

Canadian humanitarian worker Fadi Fadel was also kidnapped last month, but then released about a week later.