British hostage Norman Kember and two colleagues have been freed in Iraq. There has been enormous relief at the news. Here is some of the reaction from friends, colleagues and politicians. A member of the Christian Peacemaker Teams told Sky News:
"It's amazing to hear this news. We lost hope for awhile after Tom's death so it's a big relief.
"I shall be giving Norman a big hug when I see him."
The Rev Alan Betteridge, friend of Mr Kember:
"We are immensely relieved and thankful, especially after the death of Tom Fox, which made us very fearful.
"We have been praying for them every day."
Pat Gaffney, general secretary of Pax Christi, told Sky News:
"The people of Iraq are daily going through the same kind of turmoil that we are going through and really the work of bringing peace to Iraq will have to go on."
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw:
"I am delighted that we have a happy ending for the hostages. His wife is absolutely elated with the news."
Chris Cole, director of the Fellowship of Reconciliation, where Mr Kember is a trustee:
"We are obviously delighted to have Norman, James Loney and Harmeet Sooden free.
"It is what we have been hoping and praying for for months but at the same time we continue to mourn Tom Fox and to continue to think of his friends and family.
"We also continue to mourn all the lives lost in this dreadful war."
Ihtisham Hibatullah, of the Muslim Association of Britain:
"The hostage takers were ruthless and did not heed this call. Now we all feel that this should be the last time in Iraq that anyone should be taken and put through this kind of trauma."
Speaking to Sky News, he said Mr Kember was a "true friend of Iraqis" who had worked for peace.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, in a 10 Downing Street statement:
"The Prime Minister is delighted by the news. He is particularly pleased for those released and their families.
"He congratulates everyone involved in the operation to rescue the hostages."
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great news
