Sadrist movement led by Sayyed Muqtada Al-Sadr handed over to the United Nations a captive former American soldier who had been held for nine months.

Sadrist movement led by Sayyed Muqtada Al-Sadr handed over to the United Nations a captive former American soldier who had been held for nine months.

59-year-old ex-army sergeant Randy Michael Hills, appeared wearing a US military uniform at a news conference in Baghdad alongside two senior Sadr movement politicians.

Al-Sadr movement MP Maha Al-Duri said during the press conference said that the armed wing of the movement released the soldier after a request by Sayyed Muqtada Al-Sadr.

The US embassy confirmed the man transferred to the UN mission in Iraq (UNAMI) was a US citizen, but provided no further details about his identity.

"UNAMI has transferred a US citizen to the US Embassy in Baghdad, which is providing all necessary consular assistance to the US citizen," an embassy spokesman said.

AFP quoted an official in the movement as saying that the soldier was captured on June 18, 2011.

“He was released for humanitarian reasons," said the official, adding that “there was no direct or indirect deal or negotiations with Americans or other sides.”