Iraqi Army Rescues British Journalist

Iraqi troops rescued British photojournalist Richard Butler during a raid in Basra today, the Daily Telegraph reports. Storming a suburban house, soldiers found Butler with a hood over his head, but apparently unharmed. Butler had been working in Basra for CBS when he was abducted—by what were thought to be Shiite militiamen—from his hotel 2 months ago.

The army fought a pitched 30-minute battle over the house where Butler was held, knowing only that some “target” was within. When they burst through the door, they found Butler and shouted for him to remove his hood, which the grinning Brit did. They were “brilliant,” says Butler. “The Iraqi army, thank you very much. Thank you.” (More Iraq stories.)