BAGHDAD, March 23: US and British forces Thursday rescued three Western hostages held captive in Iraq for almost four months, amid a string of car bombings that left at least two dozen people dead.

Insurgents targeted Iraqi police and Shiites in a series of bombings, adding to sectarian tensions as US authorities pressured Iraqi politicians to quickly reach a deal on forming a government of national unity.

Three aid workers from the Christian Peacemaker Teams — Canadians Harmeet Sooden, 32, and Jim Loney, 41, and Briton Norman Kember, 74 — were rescued in western Baghdad, US Colonel John Snow told AFP.

Their US colleague Tom Fox, seized with them on Nov 26, was slain two weeks ago and his body found dumped in the city.

“The three hostages Norman Kember, a British hostage, (and) two Canadian hostages, have been released as a result of a multi-national force operation which took place earlier today,” British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said in London.

“British forces were involved in this operation. It follows weeks and weeks of very careful work by our military and coalition personnel in Iraq and many civilians as well,” Straw added.

“I am delighted we now have a happy ending to this ordeal.”

Coalition forces suffered no casualties in the operation, said British Wing Commander Tony Radcliffe.

Their abduction was claimed by a group calling itself the Brigades of the Swords of Righteousness which threatened to kill them unless all Iraqi prisoners were released.

Straw said Kember was in a “reasonable condition” and recovering in Baghdad’s top-security Green zone where the British and US embassies and the Iraqi government are based. But he said the two Canadians needed hospital treatment.

Straw said he had talked with Kember’s wife Pat throughout her husband’s ordeal and had spoken to her again since his release. “It goes without saying that she is absolutely delighted, elated with this news,” he said.

A spokesman said Tony Blair “is delighted by the news. He is pleased for those released and their families.”—AFP