Indian F.M. Appeals For Release Of Truck Drivers Held Hostage In Iraq

NEW DELHI, July 22 (AFP) - Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh issued an appeal on a number of Arab satellite channels for the release of three Indian truck drivers being held hostage in Iraq, his office said Thursday.
"The foreign minister has made an appeal through some Arab channels, including Al-Jazeera, asking for the release of these people since India has no troops in Iraq," said senior foreign office official Sanjay Baru.
"He has said that India has always been a considerate friend of Iraq. We are trying to find out the families of these people. The prime minister is keen to speak to them. The (foreign) ministry is monitoring the situation," he said.
A group calling itself "Black Flags" said Wednesday in a video aired by Al-Arabiya news channel that it had taken three Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian -- all truck drivers -- hostage in Iraq.
It threatened to start killing them one by one if their Kuwaiti employer, Universal Services, does not pull out of Iraq.