Egyptians freed in Iraq - TV

KUWAIT, July 9 (Reuters) Three Egyptians kidnapped in Iraq have been freed, Kuwait's private television al-Rai reported today.

''They are being received by Egyptian authorities at the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border,'' Rai said. ''The three were freed following intensive efforts by the Egyptian embassy in Kuwait.'' It was not immediately clear when the men were abducted.

A television official identified the three, who work for an Egyptian construction firm, as Salah al-Iraqi, Hassan Ibrahim and Osama Gaweesh.

Three other Egyptians are among 17 hostages held since the start of 2005. Nabil Tawfiq Sulaiman and Mitwali Mohammed Qassem were kidnapped in Iraq on March 19 while Samuel Edward was snatched on September. 26, 2005.

More than 200 foreigners and thousands of Iraqis have been kidnapped since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Fifty-nine foreign hostages have been reported killed by their captors.

REUTERS SY RK2301