Turkish hostages held by IS in Iraq released

Islamic State fighters parade through the Syrian city of Raqqa in an armoured vehicle (30 June 2014) The jihadist group has declared the creation of a caliphate in the areas under its control

Some 49 Turkish hostages seized by Islamic State (IS) in the north Iraqi city of Mosul in June are now back in Turkey, PM Ahmet Davutoglu says.

The hostages included diplomats and their families as well as soldiers.

They were seized from Turkey's consulate after IS militants seized Mosul in a rapid advance in June.

Turkey has refused direct involvement in the military campaign against IS partly because of fears over the hostages' safety.