A UK and US journalist were kidnapped at gunpoint by bandits in Iraq, interrogated as spies by Mujahideen and finally released, it has been reported.
Stephen Farrell wrote in the Times newspaper that he and a companion were forced from the road near Falluja by a lorry of "bandits" firing Kalashnikovs.
He said they were robbed and taken to a Mujahideen village elder's house.
They were freed after Mr Farrell showed a photo in which he had long hair - proving they were civilians, he said.
Mr Farrell said he and freelance journalist Orly Halperin had been travelling in an armoured Mercedes from Israel and were between the town of Ramadi and Falluja when the bandits or "ali baba" began firing at them, eventually hitting a tyre.
He said the men were armed with guns, knives and rocket-propelled grenades and his colleague translated them as saying: "You are woman. We won't kill you. But he's finished".
"For the next ten minutes we repeat, like a mantra, "sahafi, sahafi, sahafi"(journalist) in stereo as the frenzied thieves rifle through wallets finding evidence of our "occupier" status", Mr Farrell wrote.
He said the area where they were stopped was a "no-go" area for Iraqi police and coalition troops stayed away unless heavily armoured: "Each village is guarded by masked youths with RPGs".
Village Elder
Eventually mujahideen fighters took over and the journalists were taken to the home of their leader "Abu Mujahid", Mr Farrell wrote.
For eight hours they were repeatedly questioned about their purpose in Iraq and forced to admit they had travelled from Israel, the Times reported.
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See, not soldier. Just bald
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But, becoming convinced the pair were journalists, their host urged them to inform the world that the war and occupation in Iraq was wrong, he said.
Mr Farrell quoted Abu Mujahid as saying: "I need for you to ask Bush. Amreeka, what do you need here from Iraq? I need to know why the American Army is killing the people of Iraq."
The elder departed and the two journalists were given dinner.
But Mr Farrell said the mujahideen continued to insist: "You are soldier, you have short hair, you are CIA, you are American spy".
Eventually, he said, their belongings were returned to them and he was able to produce an old diving card which bore a picture of him with long hair.
He wrote in the Times that he said: "See, not soldier. Just bald" and the mood relaxed.
Mr Farrell said he and Ms Halperin were finally blindfolded and driven to Baghdad.
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