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Militants demand travel ban to save hostages
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-21 21:41 Iraqi insurgents who have threatened to kill eight
Chinese hostages told the Chinese government Friday they would treat them
"mercifully" if it banned all Chinese nationals from entering Iraq.
![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]](xin_050102182325528295104.jpg)
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] | The men were
abducted earlier this month, and China ordered its embassy in Iraq to push hard
for their release after a 48-hour deadline set by their captors for an
explanation of why they were in the country passed Thursday with no word on
their fate.
"We ask your government to issue a statement forbidding Chinese citizens from
entering Iraq and this will be considered as a positive gesture and will make us
look mercifully on the detainees," the insurgents said in a video obtained by
Reuters.
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] | The men, looking tired and
frightened, were shown lined up in front of a mound of earth holding their
Chinese passports in front of them. One of the hostages squatted with head
bowed.
Friday's video was the second issued by the insurgents since the men were
taken hostage, but it set no deadline for compliance by the Chinese government,
which has been a critic of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq.
China's Foreign Ministry has already urged Chinese nationals not to travel to
Iraq, citing a grave security threat.
Families of the eight, who went to the Middle East in search of jobs, pleaded
Thursday for their safe return.
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