Iraqi soldiers free CBS journalist from captors

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Richard Butler, the CBS journalist rescued by Iraqi soldiers in the southern Iraqi city of Basra on Monday, described a quick escape and "brilliant" military work that ended his two long months of captivity.

"The Iraqi army stormed the house and overcame the guards and burst through the door and I had my hood on, which I had to have on the whole time. And they shouted something at me and I pulled my hood off," Butler told TV cameras. "And they ran me down the road."

Butler, who is British, was freed Monday by chance during Iraqi military operations that have been ongoing for weeks in the city, and later was handed over to the British military. News footage showed him hugging and shaking hands with people after he fled a house in the Basra neighborhood of Jabaliya.

"Thank you and I'm looking forward to seeing my family and friends at CBS. And thank you again," he said.

When asked whether the Iraqi army was "good," Butler called the army "brilliant." Watch a jubilant Butler after his rescue »

Maj. Gen. Mohammed al-Askari, Iraq Defense Ministry spokesman, told CNN that Butler was freed by soldiers at about noon Monday. He said soldiers had been conducting a search at a house but didn't know Butler was there. When troops approached the house, four men opened fire on soldiers and a 30-minute gunfight ensued.

One person was eventually detained and three people fled, one of whom was wounded, the ministry said. Soldiers went into the house, where they found Butler, who was described as being in good health.

CBS was pleased to hear the news.

"We are incredibly grateful that our colleague, Richard Butler, has been released and is safe. He was taken on February 10 in Basra while on assignment for CBS News. He is apparently in good condition," a CBS spokeswoman said.

Butler and his translator had been kidnapped on February 10 by six to 10 gunmen in two vehicles.

The office of Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who has a large base of support in Basra, got involved in talks to release the men. The translator was released three days after the kidnapping and meetings ensued to secure Butler's release.

Iraqi security forces in the southern city of Basra have been seizing significant numbers of weapons in their three-week fight against what the government has characterized as "outlaws."

The U.S. military, in a news release Monday about what has been dubbed Operation Charge of the Knights, said troops in the Iraqi-led operation have "started the process of clearing strongholds previously dominated by criminal militias." E-mail to a friend

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