April 16: The captive, tentatively identified as Pfc. Keith M. Maupin, appeared in good condition on the videotape. NBC’s Jim Miklaszewski reports.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Two Japanese hostages were released in the Iraqi capital on Saturday, saying they had been moved from house to house during their three days in captivity but had been fairly well treated. The news from Baghdad came just hours after Arabic-language satellite news channel Al-Jazeera showed videotape of a U.S. Army reservist apparently being held captive by Iraqi insurgents.
A Reuters cameraman spoke to Jumpei Yasuda and Nobutaka Watanabe shortly after their release. The two were unshaven and looked tired but in good health as they were handed over to Japanese diplomats at Baghdad's Um al-Qura mosque.
Yasuda, 30, a freelance journalist, and Watanabe, 36, a former member of the Japanese military with ties to a civic group, said they had been treated with respect after being taken hostage on Wednesday west of Baghdad.
"We were treated kindly," Yasuda said. "We had a good meal...