Canberra, June 15, SPA -- Iraqi forces supported byAmerican troops freed an Australian engineer who had beenheld for six weeks by insurgents in Iraq, Prime MinisterJohn Howard said Wednesday. "I am delighted to inform the House that the Australianhostage in Iraq, Douglas Wood, is safe," Howard toldParliament in Canberra. "Wood was recovered a short while ago in Baghdad in amilitary operation that I am told was conducted by Iraqiforces in cooperation in a general way with force elementsof the United States," Howard was quoted as saying by The Associated Press. He did not elaborate on the nature of the militaryoperation. Wood, a 64-year-old engineer who is a longtime resident ofCalifornia and is married to an American woman, wasabducted in late April.--SPA1318 Local Time 1018 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/270051