German Seized, Then Freed, Over Muslim Cartoons

The French newspaper "France Soir," one of the European papers that have published cartoons that have enraged Muslim fundamentalists (epa)

2 February 2006 -- A German man who was seized by Palestinian gunmen angry over newspaper cartoons in Europe of the Prophet Muhammed has been freed shortly after his abduction.

A Reuters cameraman in the West Bank city of Nablus, where the man was taken at gunpoint from a hotel coffee shop, saw him safe in police hands today.

The whole incident lasted less than an hour.

(compiled from agency reports)