BAGHDAD, June 8: Special troops from the occupation forces raided a hideout south of Baghdad on Tuesday and freed three Italian hostages held for almost two months and a Pole abducted last week.

The commander of US forces in Iraq, Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, said some of the kidnappers were seized during the operation which was conducted without a shot being fired. Italy said no deal had been cut with the hostage-takers.

"At this point in time the hostages are in coalition control, in good hands, and in good health," Sanchez told a news conference in Baghdad, flanked by Italian and Polish diplomats.

"This was a happy ending to a story that could have been tragic," Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said on state television. He said the men were being flown by helicopter to Baghdad and were due to return to Italy on Wednesday.

Even as the dramatic rescue was announced, Turkey said suspected insurgents had abducted two Turks and their Iraqi driver in Falluja on Monday. Turkey's embassy in Baghdad later said one Turkish hostage had been freed but the second was still being held. -Reuters