Dozens of Turkish hostages seized by Islamic State (IS) militants in Northern Iraq have been freed and are now back in Turkey.
The group, which included women and children, were taken from the city of Mosul three months ago.
Turkey says the 49 hostages - who were seized by Islamic State militants in Iraq - have been freed by IS. The Turkish diplomats, soldiers and children were captured in the city of Mosul in June.
Ahmet Davutoglu said the captives were freed early on Saturday after a pre-planned operation involving the country's intelligence services.
"I am sharing a joyful news which as a nation we have been waiting for," he said, speaking on a visit to Azerbaijan.
"After intense efforts that lasted days and weeks, in the early hours, our citizens were handed over to us and we brought them back to our country," he added.
The hostages were taken from the Turkish consulate in Mosul in Iraq on June 11 after the city was overrun by IS fighters.
Mr Davutoglu did not provide further details on the circumstances of their release but added: "They have crossed into Turkey and I am on my way to see them. From my heart, I thank the families who maintained their dignity."
Seizure of the hostages put Turkey in a difficult position as a summit of 30 countries met in Paris last week to co-ordinate their response to the IS threat.
The nations agreed to "support the Iraqi government by any means necessary - including military assistance". Turkey resisted joining the coalition and the United States was careful not to push Ankara too hard as it worked to free the hostages.
Border opening
The hostage release comes as Turkey opened up its border to thousands of Kurds fleeing clashes with IS in neighbouring Syria.
Under tight security, the refugees, mostly women and children, crossed to the Turkish side of the border in the southeastern village of Dikmetas.
"We have taken in 4,000 brothers," Mr Davutoglu told reporters.
"The entries have started now. The number might increase. Their needs will be met. This is a humanitarian mission."
Islamic State has killed two US journalists and a British aid worker who were working in Syria in retaliation for airstrikes that Washington launched against them in Iraq.
IS is also holding two British hostages captured in Syria who have appeared in videos released by the group.
A group of Muslim scholars has made a direct appeal to IS to release hostage Alan Henning.
In a video message posted online, the men told the 47-year-old's captors that killing him would be against Islamic law.
Originally posted 8:23am
