I have thought about this moment for a long time Terry Anderson

The delay created confusion and tears as his family wondered if it was another false alarm.

But the former US Marine staff sergeant later emerged before a packed news conference in Damascus looking well.

He said he had been informed of his release the previous afternoon and given a new set of clothes and shoes - his first since he was snatched off the street by an Islamic militant group on 16 March 1985.

"I have thought about this moment for a long time," he said.

"Now it is here and I am scared to death. I do not know what to say."

He thanked Syrian, Lebanese, and Iranian authorities for securing his release and paid tribute to his family, friends and the thousands of well-wishers who had worked tirelessly to secure the hostages' release.

Mr Anderson said he spent his time in captivity listening to the radio, mainly the BBC which he praised.

He also read whatever magazines and newspapers were available.

Before his release he was ordered to read out a statement from his captors regarding the situation in Lebanon.

Mr Anderson will now be taken to the American military hospital in Wiesbaden, Germany, where two other US hostages, Joseph Cicippio and Alan Steen, have been since their release earlier this week.

On being the longest held American hostage, he said: "It is an honour I would gladly have given up a long time ago."

German hostages Thomas Kemptner and Heinrich Struebig remain in captivity.

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