A militia loyal to Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr frees an American former soldier Saturday after holding him captive in Baghdad for nine months.

The American, identified as Randy Michaels, was shown on television in a U.S. military uniform with no insignia. He said he was working in a civilian capacity when he was seized. He said he was released for humanitarian purposes.

He was handed over to the United Nations mission in Baghdad, which said it was in touch with the U.S. embassy.

The Pentagon has said none of its serving troops are believed to be held in Iraq since last month when it recovered the remains of the last missing soldier.

Deborah Lutterbeck, Reuters