Age and inability to speak English may have saved hostage's life

Chinese hostage Wang Ende , who was rescued after a gun battle between Pakistani soldiers and his al-Qaeda-linked kidnappers, says being older and unable to speak English may have saved his life.

The 49-year-old engineer, who escaped unharmed on Thursday, told friends he had been lucky to survive the ordeal because his kidnappers did not think he was as valuable as the other hostage, Wang Peng , 32, who was shot dead by the militants.

Wang Ende was greeted by fellow Sino Hydro employees and Chinese embassy staff on Thursday on his return to Islamabad.

Wang Peng's body was also returned to Islamabad on Thursday. Embassy spokesman Zhang Yiming said the body would be flown back to Shandong today. 'We are very sad that Wang Peng died,' Mr Zhang said.

The Youth Daily quoted a colleague of the pair as saying Wang Ende told him he had made a pact with Wang Peng that whoever survived would look after the other's family.

'I'm old and I don't speak English. The kidnappers thought I didn't have much value and so did not watch me closely,' Wang Ende was quoted as saying. 'But Wang Peng was young and spoke English. The kidnappers thought he was more valuable and so watched him closely.'