U.S. Hostage Freed After 10 Months in Iraq

"LOS ANGELES (AP) - American contractor Roy Hallums, who was taken hostage last November in Iraq, has been released, his ex-wife said Wednesday.

"I can confirm he's been released," Susan Hallums, 53, told The Associated Press in a brief telephone interview from her home in Corona. "Considering what he's been through, I understand he's in good condition."

She didn't give any details, but she told CNN she had talked to him.

"It was just very, very early this morning and he called and said that he was free and I said, 'That's just - our prayers were answered,'" she said.

"It was just so wonderful to hear his voice and to hear my kids calling me and so happy ...," she said. "He just said he was optimistic that he would be OK, and I said, can he walk, and he said, 'I walked a little bit.'"

A family Web site was topped with a headline: Roy IS FREE!!!!!! 9/7/05."
MyWay