Baghdad (AsiaNews/Agencies) –Angelo De la Cruz, the Filipino truck driver taken hostage in Iraq, has been released, Arab satellite TV channel Al Arabiya said citing sources in the Iraqi National Congress.

The Philippines completed the withdrawal of its contingent yesterday complying with the demands of the guerrillas of the "Khaled Ibn al Walid" Brigade (Islamic Army of Iraq) who had seized the Filipino truck driver on July 7.

The US criticised Manila's decision saying it amounted to appeasing the terrorists and sending the wrong signal. Ms. Rend al-Rahim Francke, chief of Iraq's diplomatic mission in Washington, joined the US in criticising the Philippines's decision.

"We are very disappointed," the Ambassador said, "because all this [the withdrawal, Editor's Note] does is confirm to the terrorists that terrorism works. It doesn't stop it; on the contrary, it encourages it."

In the Philippines' northern province of Pampanga de la Cruz's relatives were overjoyed. "I am happy that they [the troops, Editor's Note] pulled out so that my son could be freed," said the hostage's father before the release was announced.