One of two German hostages in Iraq free-ministry

BERLIN, July 11 (Reuters) One of two German hostages held in Iraq since February is free, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier said today.

''After 155 days, Hannelore Krause's captivity is over. She has been free since yesterday afternoon,'' Steinmeier told reporters in Berlin, saying he could not discuss the circumstances of the release. Her son was not free.

Iraqi militants had threatened to kill the two, seized from their home in western Baghdad in February, unless Germany withdrew its troops from Afghanistan.

REUTERS RSA HS1330