The Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced today the release of an Iraqi citizen who was kidnapped in Homs, Syria. The statement said that the Iraqi citizen Abu al-Hassan Hamid Musaed, who was kidnapped three weeks ago in al-Bayada area in Homs countryside, after coming from Basra Governorate to marry a Syrian girl, was released. The statement added that "thanks to the tireless efforts made by the Iraqi embassies in Damascus and Beirut, in cooperation with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service, and direct communication with the security leadership in the Syrian government and the Lebanese security agencies, represented by the Intelligence Command, the citizen was released." The ministry explained that "the gang that carried out the kidnapping had demanded a ransom of $500,000, but the Iraqi embassy and the Iraqi National Intelligence Service were able to release him without entering into any negotiations with the kidnappers, indicating that the perpetrators will be dealt with in accordance with the law by the competent authorities." The ministry affirmed its "firm commitment to protecting its citizens abroad, expressing" its appreciation for the fruitful cooperation between the Iraqi security services and their counterparts in Syria and Lebanon, which contributed to achieving this success. Source: National Iraqi News Agency