ARMENIAN HOSTAGE IN IRAQ SAVED

47-year-old Armenian citizen of Lebanon Aram Nalbandian, who was taken hostage by Iraqi militants, has been set free. As reported by RFE/RL, Nalbandian was taken hostage on his way to Fallujah on September 27. The fighters asked $100,000 for the hostage. However, on the day the mediator was to pass the ransom the US troops bombarded Fallujah. As result of the operation the house, where the hostages were kept, was ruined and the fighters were killed. Nalbandian and one more surviving hostage stayed under the debris for two days until the rescuers found them.