A reporter, a photographer and a camera crew member of the Joint Media Team Malaysia (JMTM) were freed Saturday and were in hospital in Baghdad, JMTM coordinator Zukri Valenteno Ali was quoted as saying by the Bernama news agency.

Acting Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, who confirmed the release, expressed gratitude that the three had been set free and advised JMTM members to be more careful in carrying out their work in Iraq.

"They must take into consideration the hazards that they may face when moving from one area to another," he said.

Abdullah, who is also home minister, said details on the release had yet to be obtained.

Asked whether JMTM members had been advised to move to a safer place, he said they should use their own discretion.

Abdullah had announced early Sunday that the three had been kidnapped by unidentified gunmen in an ambush in Baghdad.

He identified the three as New Straits Times photographer Anuar Hashim, Omar Salleh, a cameraman with state-run Radio Televisyen Malaysia and Terence Fernandez, a reporter for the Sun newspaper.

Two doctors were injured and an Iraqi interpreter was killed in the attack.

The Malaysian government has paid for some 30 local journalists to cover the war in Iraq because of the perceived bias of Western media.

SPACE.WIRE