Egypt Says Six Orascom Employees Abducted In Iraq

CAIRO, Sept 24 (AFP) - The Egyptian foreign ministry confirmed Friday the abduction in Iraq of six Egyptians employed by an Iraqi unit of the Egyptian telecom giant Orascom.
A statement said the ministry had confirmed the kidnappings through its mission in Baghdad, which is in touch with "different circles with which it has strong ties in order to guarantee the release of the Egyptian hostages."
The ministry expressed hope the hostages would be released "immediately in light of the brotherly relations between the Egyptian and Iraqi people, in conformity with the religious and moral values" they share.
It added that the Egyptians "went to Iraq to help in efforts to reconstruct the new Iraq."