Home>News Center>China
       
 

Fate of hostages unknown as deadline passes
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-21 15:16

Iraq could mobilise "special troops" to free eight kidnapped Chinese nationals, Iraqi ambassador in China was quoted as saying after a deadline set by the men's militant captors, who threatened to execute them, had passed.

Iraq's ambassador in China Mohammad Ifmeiio was quoted by the Beijing Youth Daily as saying the interim government was exploring all avenues to win the men's release, "even mobilising special troops".

He could not be reached Friday.

A video grab image shows eight hostages holding Chinese passports standing before a mud brick wall along with two masked gunmen. The kidnappers threathen to kill them within 48 hours unless China clarifies its stance on Iraq. [Reuters]
A video grab image shows eight hostages holding Chinese passports standing before a mud brick wall along with two masked gunmen. The kidnappers threathen to kill them within 48 hours unless China clarifies its stance on Iraq. [Reuters]
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said the government was working day and night to free the hostages, whom the militants had threatened to execute unless Beijing "clarified" its position on Iraq by Thursday.

"Every hour, we are in contact with our embassy in Baghdad," Li said.

The foreign ministry Friday said it had no new information but posted a statement on its website in which Li called on China's ambassador in Iraq Yang Honglin to ensure the men, aged 18 to 40, were saved.

"Once again he expressed our nation's leaders' concern about the kidnapped Chinese citizens' safety and demanded the ambassador and the embassy make every effort with the help of the Iraqi people to help free them as soon as possible," it said.

The embassy in Baghdad declined to comment Friday but told Xinhua news agency it was maintaining contacts with Iraqi governmental and non-governmental parties.

Chinese diplomats have been talking with the Committee of Muslim Scholars, which helped win the release of seven Chinese taken hostage last year.

The influential body of Sunni Muslim clerics was quoted by Chinese media Thursday as saying it was optimistic the men would be released.

On Tuesday kidnappers reportedly from the Movement of the Islamic Resistance Nuamaan Brigade released footage to Al-Jazeera television of the eight laborers holding Chinese passports.


Relatives of Lin Zhong, a Chinese national kidnapped in Iraq, react after hearing the bad news in Pingtan, east China's Fujian province, January 19, 2005. [newsphoto]
It claimed they were helping the US military build facilities in Iraq and demanded Beijing "clarify" its position on Iraq within 48 hours or the hostages would be executed.

The government and employers of the plant the eight men were helping build have both denied there was any link to the United States.

Beijing opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 but, like other nations, its companies have chased lucrative reconstruction contracts in the war-ravaged country.

Vice President Zeng Qinghong was quoted as saying Friday that rebuilding Iraq "not only relates to the war-torn nation's future but also influences regional stability".

"China is willing to offer assistance in the effort," Xinhua cited him as saying.

"China hopes the upcoming Iraqi election will help maintain independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Iraq," he said.

"Through the election, China hopes a new government that represents the interests of all sectors within the country can be set up."

China has previously pledged US$25 million towards rebuilding efforts and has indicated it was prepared to write off a large part of the estimated 5.8 billion dollars owed to it by the ousted Saddam Hussein regime.

The government also donated US$1 million in aid towards this month's elections.

Iraqi Vice President Rowsch Nuri Shaways, in Beijing on a previously scheduled trip, said his government would exhaust "every effort" to make sure the men were freed.

In a meeting with Zeng, Shaways, a member of the Kurdistan Democratic Party, said he "regrets the crisis and the Iraqi people and government have strongly condemned the militants".



 
  Today's Top News     Top China News
 

Winter power shortage causes blackouts nationwide

 

   
 

Fate of hostages unknown as deadline passes

 

   
 

Space mission set: two to orbit in Shenzhou-VI

 

   
 

China, Canada sign energy agreements

 

   
 

FM spokesman: 'China a victim of terrorism'

 

   
 

Bush takes oath of office for second term

 

   
  Relief materials leave China for eastern Africa
   
  Hostage release sought: Iraqi VP
   
  'Seoul' morphs into Chinese 'Shouer'
   
  Online gambling sees 600 arrested
   
  China, Canada sign energy agreements
   
  Space mission set: two to orbit in Shenzhou-VI
   
 
  Go to Another Section  
 
 
  Story Tools  
   
  Related Stories  
   
Families of hostages in Iraq issue plea
   
Hostages' families pray for safe return
   
Eight Chinese nationals kidnapped in Iraq
   
Embassy confirms 8 Chinese kidnapped in Iraq
   
Hostage release sought: Iraqi VP
   
Iraqis assure full help on release
   
No news yet from Iraqi contacts
  News Talk  
  It is time to prepare for Beijing - 2008  
Advertisement
         
主站蜘蛛池模板: 无码成人AAAAA毛片| 韩国二级毛片免费播放| 小芳啊灬啊灬啊灬快灬深用力| 久久综合九色欧美综合狠狠| 欧美黑人巨大xxxxxxxx| 午夜国产福利在线观看| 邻居少妇张开腿让我爽了在线观看 | 久久亚洲精品中文字幕| 欧美videos在线观看| 亚洲欧美精品中字久久99| 看久久久久久a级毛片| 啦啦啦资源在线观看视频| 野花香高清在线观看视频播放免费| 国产欧美日韩另类一区乌克兰| 538精品在线观看| 天天曰天天干天天操| 一本一本久久a久久精品综合| 无码日韩精品一区二区免费| 久久精品国产久精国产| 最近最好的中文字幕2019免费| 亚洲成av人片在线观看www| 波多野结衣免费一区视频| 免费毛片网站在线观看| 精品国产一区二区三区香蕉事| 国产a久久精品一区二区三区| 高嫁肉柳风车动漫| 国产成人综合亚洲| 亚洲精品短视频| 国产精品福利尤物youwu| 91普通话国产对白在线| 在线免费观看h片| av片在线观看| 男女一边桶一边摸一边脱视频免费 | jizz国产视频| 好吊色欧美一区二区三区四区| 一级黄色在线看| 成人草莓视频在线观看| 中文字幕欧美成人免费| 日本一道在线日本一道高清不卡免费| 久久毛片免费看一区二区三区| 牛牛影院毛片大全免费看|