The family of a Lebanese-born U.S. Marine held hostage in Iraq said it was confident Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun had been freed and was well, though relatives have not heard directly from him, his brother said Tuesday.
"We have received reliable information the guy is free," Sami Hassoun told The Associated Press from the northern Lebanese city of Tripoli, where the Marine has family.
Though he had not spoken with his brother, who was serving as a translator with the U.S. Marines in Iraq when he went missing June 20, Sami Hassoun said "we received a sign from my brother reassuring us."
He said the family received information deemed "credible" from a person he did not identify who came to their Tripoli home. That person, he said, did not disclose the whereabouts of the Marine to the family.
Hassoun's alleged captors have claimed to have beheaded him, then claimed that he wasn't. On Monday they said he was in a safe place and had promised not to return to the U.S. military. (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
