Norman Kember to return to UK

The wife of British hostage Norman Kember, who is reported to be on his way back to the UK, has spoken of her joy at the release of her husband after four months of being held captive in Iraq.

Pat Kember told a radio station in New Zealand that she was "thrilled" that her peace activist husband had been freed, along with two Canadian colleagues.

Speaking from her home in Pinner, north west London, Mrs Kember admitted that she thought her husband was "a bit silly" in wanting to go to Iraq, but she said that she never expected him to be kidnapped. She told the radio station: "I thought he might be blown up by a bomb, I did not really expect him to be taken hostage.

"On the other hand, I knew he felt he must do something and he is getting old."

Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor, was kidnapped along with Canadian citizens James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 and American Tom Fox, 54, last November in Baghdad.

All four men had been working for the Christian Peacemaker Teams charity.

Mr Kember and the two Canadian hostages were freed yesterday following an operation led by British forces.

The body of Mr Fox was found in Baghdad two weeks ago. He had been tortured and shot dead.

A previously unknown group calling themselves the Swords of Righteousness Brigade had abducted the men. They had threatened to kill all the men unless all Iraqi prisoners were released.

Prime Minister Tony Blair paid tribute to the troops involved in the rescue of the hostages, praising their "extraordinary courage, dedication and commitment".

(KMcA)