Militants in Iraq who kidnapped a British journalist in the southern city of Basra have released the reporter after intervention by Moqtada al-Sadr's office.
Freelance reporter James Brandon was seized by gunmen who stormed the hotel where he was staying.
After his release, he gave a brief news conference in al-Sadr's office in Basra and thanked those who had worked for his release.
An al-Sadr spokesman apologised to the journalist, saying that it was not in the tradition of Islam to abduct people.
Mr Brandon has been in Iraq for the past ten months and has worked for the Sunday Telegraph, the Scotsman and the London Independent, among other media.
