A Lebanese citizen and two Iraqis working for a telecoms firm who were kidnapped near Fallujah on Thursday were found dead yesterday.
Drivers found their mutilated bodies on the roadside between Baghdad and Jordan. Their throats had been cut.
Seven Turkish construction workers kidnapped on Tuesday in the same area were released today and are on their way home.
One other Turk, a lorry driver called Bulent Yanik, who was
kidnapped last week, remains in Iraq.
US military releases four journalists
Meanwhile, the US military has released four journalists who were detained after explosives residue was found on them as they tried to enter the US headquarters in Baghdad, according to an army spokesman.
Brigadier-General Mark Kimmit said two Iraqis and two Turks were arrested on 7 June after sniffer dogs found the residue.
They were released four days later.
Iraqi official assassinated
This morning, a senior official of Iraq's foreign ministry was assassinated in the capital, Baghdad.
Gunmen fired on the car in which Bassam Qubba, the Director General of the ministry, was travelling to work. He was seriously wounded and died later in hospital.
Mr Qubba was the first senior official to be assassinated in Iraq since a new interim government took office on 1 June.
Insurgents have been expected to step up their attacks on Iraqis who are seen as co-operating with US-led forces before the occupation formally ends on 30 June.
