Byline: David Leppard

THE freed British hostage Norman Kember arrived back on British soil yesterday and tried to defuse a growing row over his response to the SAS mission that rescued him.

Speaking at Heathrow airport after being reunited with his wife Pat, the retired professor issued a statement to address criticism that he had failed to thank his rescuers. "I do not believe that a lasting peace is achieved by armed force, but I pay tribute to their courage and thank those who played a part in my rescue," he said.

Kember was responding to remarks by General Sir Mike Jackson, chief of the general staff, who had suggested he had failed to express his gratitude to the troops who risked their lives to rescue him and two other hostages after four months...