British journalist freed in Iraq

Updated 21.46 Mon Apr 14 2008

Keywords: Richard Butler, Iraq

A British journalist has been freed after being kidnapped two months ago in Iraq.

Richard Butler, a photographer for the US network CBS was seized from a hotel in the southern city of Basra by gunmen in early February along with an interpreter. The interpreter was released days later.

"The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and then burst through the door" - Richard Butler

An Iraqi Defence Ministry spokesman Major-General Mohammed al-Askary said Mr Butler had been freed in a military operation in the city.

Mr Butler said Iraqi forces had raided the house where he was held and overwhelmed his captors.

He said, "The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame my guards and then burst through the door. 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."

Iraqi forces launched a crackdown on militia in Basra at the end of March, triggering violence which spread throughout southern Iraq and Baghdad.

Basra has been quieter in the past few days, and Iraqi forces say they have been going house to house searching for militants and weapons.