BAGHDAD, Jan 18 (AFP) - A previously unknown group, called the Islamic Jihad Brigades, said it had kidnapped a Lebanese who it accused of working with the Americans, according to a video obtained by AFP on Tuesday.
The video showed a man named as Gebrayel Adib Azar, 29, sitting in front of four masked and armed men, one of whom read a statement in the group's name. There was no indication of the date in the video.
"The Islamic Jihad Brigades announces the capture of Gebrayel Adib Azar, a Lebanese national, employed by the Berjani Group, who works for the US occupation forces," the man read.
"This company must end all its business in Iraq within seven days of the showing of this video on satellite channels. Otherwise he will be punished.
"We warn all the firms working with the occupation forces to terminate their activities in Iraq. Otherwise their employees are condemned to suffering," the man added.
The video, which bears the group's logo, also displays the hostage's Lebanese passport, a firearm permit valid for 2005 and delivered by the US troops, his identity card and an employee card with the Berjani Group.
The Lebanese embassy in Baghdad could not immediately comment on the video.
Two Lebanese businessmen, Hassan and Ghazi Haidar, were captured on December 29 in Baghdad by another Islamist organisation.
A total of around 30 Lebanese working for private companies -- many of them subcontracted by the US military -- have been nabbed by insurgents and gangs in recent months.
In September 2004, a Lebanese hostage was murdered, and three others were killed when a firefight broke out during their kidnapping.
01/18/2005 17:01 GMT - AFP