A Pakistan embassy official who was kidnapped in Iraq two weeks ago has been freed, a Pakistani government spokesman said, and called home to tell his family he's fine. Malik Mohammed Javed, 48, was abducted April 9 in Baghdad after leaving his residence to pray at a mosque. Pakistan said he was taken by a previously unknown Muslim group entitled "Omar bin al-Khattab," which had demanded a ransom for Javed's release. "He was freed Sunday. He has reached the Pakistan Embassy in Baghdad. He is safe," Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed told The Associated Press. He declined to give further details or say whether any ransom was paid.
