Kember: 'It's great to be free!'

March 23, 2006

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KEMBER: Before the kidnap.

NORMAN Kember said today that it was "great to be free" after more than four months in captivity.

In his first public statement since his release, he said: "It's great to be free. I am looking forward to getting back to the UK."

Mr Kember was speaking via an official at the British Embassy in Baghdad as preparations began for his return home.

His family showed their happiness at the news in a series of comments and statements.

Mr Kember's brother Ian was overcome with emotion at the news of the release.

Speaking from his home in Taunton, Somerset, Ian Kember said: "It's fresh news to me, I haven't got my thoughts together yet.

"It's a wonderful thing, and it's obviously a great relief, but beyond that I haven't come to terms with it yet.

"This has been the news we have been waiting for for a long time."

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London released a statement on behalf of Mr Kember's family.

It read: "We are very pleased that Norman and his friends are safe.

'Support'

"We are grateful for all the support we have had from so many people since Norman was taken hostage.

"We also thank everyone who has worked so hard for him to be set free. We request that our privacy be respected at this time."

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he had spoken to Mr Kember's wife Pat, of Pinner, north west London, several times.

Asked how Mrs Kember had reacted when he told her of her husband's release, Mr Straw said: "I think she was still trying to digest the news.

"I have had a number of conversations with her and my staff have kept in very close touch with her. She has shown the most extraordinary fortitude throughout this."

He added that Mrs Kember has shown "the most wonderful Christian fortitude" and that he was "so pleased" she would be reunited with him.

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Mike, city centre Manchester (23/03/2006 at 16:13)

Whilst I am glad he is now free to preach his particular gospel not mine I have to say I hope he and his like minded followers are forever gratefull to the people who risked their own lives to save his.

Against the war, Swinton (23/03/2006 at 19:04)

I'm really glad that he has been rescued, but I am concerned as to why he was in Iraq in the first place. Busybodies like him go out to these places, preach their own doctrines, put themselves at great risk, then sit there scared in front of a camera when they are kidnapped, when will they ever learn? Now troops have risked their lives to rescue him and his other colleagues, I just wonder if other naive people like him will follow in his footsteps.

Mandy, Manchester (23/03/2006 at 19:45)

Now that he is free, and considering that he went to Iraq of his own free will, how much will he be charged for the cost of rescuing him?

martin, edgewood,md (23/03/2006 at 22:40)

has there been one word of thanks to the us british forces that rescued the hostages? you would think after four months there captors would have seen what they were trying to do in iraq and been gratful and set them free.ask tom

Barbara, Sussex (24/03/2006 at 08:52)

It's a shame that Margaret Hassan wasn't rescued. She contributed a lot more to the well-being of Iraqis than Kember and his ill-prepared group could have done.

Sandra, Galway (24/03/2006 at 16:45)

Lucky Norman Kember! What a pity Abdul Rahman, the Afghan Muslim who faces the death penalty for converting to Christianity, can't say the same thing. And why aren't Norman Kember and his ilk speaking out on his behalf? And where's Prince Charles, the self-styled 'Defender of All Faiths' when he's needed?

pommie, adelaide australia (25/03/2006 at 01:08)

What a thoughtless old fool.
What about the young men & women who had to risk their lives to rescue him. Has he any thoughts on that?
He should have been left to his own folly. Maybe his ego would have pulled him through though it appears to be big enough.

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