[No Blue States]

The developments came the same day that U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice arrived in Iraq for a one-day visit.

Maybe they didnt want tp piss Condi off.

[oolatec]

I wonder how much $ they paid the kidnappers.

[No Blue States]

The governor's cousin, Safi Jalal, told The Associated Press on Sunday that the captive had been freed.

"He was released and he is currently in the (village) of Obeidi," he said. "People celebrated by firing shots in the air."

An official at Iraq's Ministry of Provincial Affairs, Ahmed Hadi, confirmed that al-Mahalawi was released early Sunday, but he declined to provide any details. The governor's cousin said he was released without conditions.

http://kutv.com/topstories/topstories_story_135120930.html