>wood's release!! a negotiated deal??>, page-5

Tim Blair from the Bulletin is all over this

http://timblair.net/

worth a read...

At this stage there seem to be 3 main scenarios being put forward:

1. Hallali was under surveillance from the moment he arrived in Iraq and unknowingly gave away links in the murderous scum chain. That was enough for the Iraqis, Aussies and US to follow up and resulted in Wood's release - what better way than under the current general operation to clean-up the worst areas of Baghdad.

2. As the Iraqi's were continuing their clean-up of the worst problem areas in Bagdad, they just co-incidentally stumbled over Wood.

3. Hillali arranged for a staged rescue.


...and the PM stated that there were SAS there helping with the 'planning'.