BAGHDAD, July 19: An Egyptian held hostage in Iraq was released on Monday but the fate of a Filipino hostage remained uncertain even after the last of the Philippine troops left the country as demanded by his abductors.

An Egyptian diplomat confirmed the release of Sayed Mohammed Sayed al Garbawi, a fuel tanker driver who was abducted in early July when he was crossing into Iraq from Saudi Arabia.

"He is with me and we are heading to the embassy now," Mohammed Mamduh Kotb, counsellor at Egypt's interests section in Baghdad, said. "He is in good health." Mr Kotb refused to say whether a ransom was paid to secure the freedom of Mr Garbawi after his Saudi employer had announced on Friday that it would end all its activities in Iraq as demanded by the kidnappers.

Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit welcomed Mr Garbawi's release, voicing hope it would be "the end of such regrettable incidents against innocent civilians". Initially the militant group holding Garbawi had demanded a one million-dollar ransom but his employer offered 15,000 dollars instead. -AFP