NAIROBI, July 22 (AFP) - The Kenyan government on Thursday called on all its citizens in Iraq to leave the country immediately, after three Kenyan nationals were kidnapped and taken hostage by an armed group in the country.
"We urge all Kenyans in Iraq to leave at once and all those in neighbouring countries, such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, to register with the Kenyan mission in Kuwait," government spokesman Alfred Mutua told a press conference in Nairobi.
The spokesman did not say how many Kenyans were in the region.
He named the men as Jalal Mohamed Awadh, 39, Faiz Khamis Salim, 39, and Ibrahim Khamis Idd, 48.
Together with three Indians and an Egyptian, they were kidnapped on Wednesday "by a group that calling itself `The Holders of the Black Banners,`" Mutua said.
The group, also referred in to some reports as "Black Flags," has threatened to execute the seven unless the Kuwaiti company they worked for pulled out of Iraq.
Mutua said the government was "working closely with contacts in Iraq," to secure the release of the three Kenyans, who were drivers for Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company.
"We are also in contact with the owner of the company and he has assured us he is doing all he can to get the men released... the ministry of foreign affairs is spearheading efforts to get the men released," Mutua said.
"Kenya has no troops in Iraq. We also do not have any Kenyan companies operating in Iraq," he said.
"We plead with the kidnappers to release the men so that they can be re-united with their families. We assure them that Kenya has no intention of interfering with the lives of the Iraqi people and that we are discouraging our citizens from engaging in work that takes them to Iraq," he added.
Mutua requested the the kidnappers to "have the mercy of God and let them come home. Their children are waiting."