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Iraq freed a jailed British businessman Saturday in a deal that unlocked Iraqi assets held in British banks. In a tradeoff for Ian Richter, released after six years of a life sentence for bribery, Britain pledged to unfreeze 60 million pounds ($120 million Cdn) to buy food and medicine for sanctions-battered Iraq. Britain becomes the first of the Gulf War coalition members to release Baghdad assets seized in the Kuwait invasion crisis almost 16 months ago. British Prime Minister John Major described the release as "very welcome news." "It`s wonderful to be out.