Related event: Iraq in Transition

Romanian President Traian Basescu said the journalists were in the custody of Romanian authorities and were expected home soon.

"Today the three Romanian citizens and their Arab-American companion were handed over to the Romanian embassy in Baghdad. Romanian authorities have them and can now guarantee their security so that they can come back home. "

Basescu says that no ransom was paid and that Romania "did not negotiate its foreign policy", but he did not elaborate on the hostages' release.

The kidnappers had threatened to kill the hostages unless Romania pulled its 800 troops out of Iraq.