A Jordanian businessman kidnapped in Iraq this week has been freed after payment of a ransom, his son told The Associated Press on Friday. Jamal Sadeq al-Salaymeh "is safe and is expected to return home soon," said the son, Sameh Jamal al-Salaymeh. He declined to give the size of the ransom. Al-Salaymeh, who works for a Japanese firm, was kidnapped Aug. 9 from his home on the outskirts of Baghdad. He later called the office manager of his Japanese firm to say the kidnappers were demanding US$250,000 in ransom, according to the official Jordanian news agency Petra. Jordanian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali-Al-Ayed said late Thursday night that al-Salaymeh had been released, Petra reported. Sameh al-Salaymeh said his father would come to the family home in Amman.
