India on Wednesday confirmed the release of three Indian hostages in Iraq and said they have reached the Indian embassy in Baghdad.

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Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said the hostages would soon reach Kuwait by road.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, who was also present at the press conference, said efforts are on to get them back to India.

A source in Delhi said the hostages may be flown to Delhi via Mimbai.

 Singh said Ahamed spoke to the families of the hostages. "They are very relieved and so are we. We have had very anxious moments and it is a matter of great relief," he said and thanked Ahamed for the long hours he put monitoring the situation.

Ahamed said he has conveyed the good news President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.