Egyptian hostage freed in Iraq

Mr Gharabawi described how he was initially held blindfold

An Egyptian truck driver has told of his relief after being freed by insurgents who held him hostage in Iraq for two weeks.

Truck driver Mohammed Gharabawi was brought to the Egyptian embassy in Baghdad on Monday evening.

Mr Gharabawi said he was fed well, treated in "an Islamic manner" and he apologised for worrying his family - who rejoiced at news of his release.

Hours earlier, the last Filipino troops left Iraq in a bid to save a hostage.

Their evacuation - a month early - had been demanded by militants who threatened to kill the hostage, but there is as yet no news of his fate.

'They let me pray'

Mr Gharabawi said he had been held blindfold and handcuffed for the first few days of his ordeal, during which he was frequently moved.

We are partying... Mohammed Gharabawi's son, Essam

"Two or three days after my abduction they started treating me well and offered me food. They put me in a room by myself and allowed me to pray," he told Egyptian news agency Mena.

Mr Gharabawi, who looked tired but in good health, was freed after his Saudi employers the Faisal al-Neheit Transport Company agreed to leave Iraq.

However, they say they refused to pay the full $1m ransom.

Mr Gharabawi's family rejoiced at home in the Nile Delta town of Zagazig, 60km (40 miles) northeast of Cairo.

"We are partying downstairs," his son Essam told Associated Press.

He said his mother had cried in joy at the news.