Egyptian Diplomat Seized by Militants in Iraq

[nemo]

Egyptian Diplomat Seized by Militants in Iraq

Fri Jul 23, 2004 03:29 PM ET

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By Edmund Blair

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Militants have seized an Egyptian diplomat in Baghdad and demanded that Egypt should not cooperate with U.S.-led forces, Al Jazeera reported Friday.

The Arabic satellite television station showed a video tape of Mohamed Mamdouh Qutb -- the first diplomat known to have been abducted in a wave of hostage-taking that has swept Iraq -- sitting in front of six masked men dressed in black.

"The group said the abduction was in response to comments by Egyptian Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif that Egypt is ready to offer its security experience to the temporary Iraqi government," Al Jazeera said.

"The hostage said in the tape that the Egyptian Embassy does not cooperate with the American forces and should help the Iraqi people in rebuilding," the station said.

Asked about Al Jazeera's report, an Egyptian Embassy staff member said in Baghdad: "It's correct." No other details were immediately available.

Kidnappers have seized dozens of foreigners since April to demand foreign troops leave Iraq, deter foreigners from working with U.S. forces or extract ransoms.

Iraq's interim government led by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi is heavily reliant on 160,000 mostly U.S. foreign troops for security while it builds up its own forces.

NEW DEADLINE FOR OTHER HOSTAGES

In another hostage standoff, a group which has threatened to behead seven foreign captives issued a new 48-hour deadline to the Kuwaiti company that employs them and demanded Iraqi prisoners be freed from Kuwaiti and U.S. jails.

Al Jazeera showed a video tape of a masked man reading a statement in front of the seven men -- three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian -- who were sitting on the ground.

"(The group) said the company must pay compensation to the families of the dead in Falluja and Iraqi prisoners in American and Kuwait jails should be released," Al Jazeera said.    Continued ...

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:no: these are great people we're dealing with....... we should just leave them alone.... :rolleyes:

[deadzombie]

These people are murders and kidnappers and should be dealt with accordingly.