New Delhi, April 8 -- American journalist Shelly Kittleson, 49, was freed Tuesday afternoon in Baghdad, more than a week after she was snatched from a street corner in the Iraqi capital on 31 March. US and Iraqi officials confirmed the release, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issuing a formal statement early Wednesday.

"We are relieved that this American is now freed and are working to support her safe departure from Iraq," Rubio wrote on X, also thanking Iraqi authorities, the FBI, the US Defense Department, and other American agencies for their efforts in securing her release.

Iraqi officials, speaking anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly, confirmed she had been held in Baghdad prior to her release b...