BAGHDAD, July 31 (AFP) - An Iraqi mediator working for the release of seven foreign hostages vowed Saturday to pull out of the negotiations unless their Kuwaiti employer bends to the Islamic militant kidnappers' demands.
"If the Kuwait side doesn't undertake anything, I will withdraw because I only accepted this task for humanitarian reasons," Sheikh Hisham al-Dulaimi told AFP.
A group calling itself the "Islamic Secret Army - Holders of the Black Banners" has threatened to start executing the seven at 1500 GMT on Saturday unless their employer, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport, pulls out of Iraq.
Dulaimi said he was convinced the Kuwaiti company could save the lives of the three Indians, three Kenyans and Egyptian snatched in Iraq 10 days ago.
"Everything depends on the company," Dulaimi said, insisting that the deadline was the kidnappers' "last".
The tribal leader confirmed that a company official in Iraq was dealing with the matter, but said he was waiting for Kuwait to send a document recognising the official, Mehdi Saleh, as the company's "legal representative".
"If we get a response confirming Mr Mehdi's credentials, I believe we can secure a positive outcome," said Dulaimi.