UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Tuesday welcomed the news that Iraqi, Egyptian and Italian civilians held hostage in Iraq had been released.

In a statement issued at the UN headquarters in New York, the UN chief again decried the use of kidnapping to further a cause.

"He once again calls for the immediate release of all the remaining hostages in Iraq," said the statement.

"He strongly condemns all hostage taking, which no cause can justify and appeals to all parties to adhere strictly to the fundamental precepts of human rights and respect for human life," it added.

The last two Egyptian workers of an Egyptian telecom company kidnapped earlier this month in Iraq were released on Tuesday.

Six Egyptians working for Orascom company were abducted along with two Iraqis on Wednesday and Thursday in separate incidents.

Meanwhile, two 29-year-old Italian girls seized on Sept. 7 were also released.

(Xinhua News Agency September 29, 2004)