Date:23/07/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/07/23/stories/2004072305901200.htm

International - India & World

Natwar condemns abduction, appeals for hostages' release

By B. Muralidhar Reddy

ISLAMABAD, JULY 22. India today condemned the abduction of three of its nationals in Iraq and said it was making all efforts to seek their early release.

The External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, here in connection with the SAARC Council of Ministers meeting told reporters that the hostages were "not combatants" but "innocent persons."

Mr. Singh today spoke to the Iraqi Foreign Minister, currently in Cairo, over the phone and appealed to him to ensure the hostages' safe release. The Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed, spoke to Mr. Singh twice this morning to brief him on the latest developments.

`Demands unacceptable'

"Our government is not there. No one can accept their demands. We condemn it in the strongest terms and hope this issue gets over quickly," Mr. Singh said.

The threat issued by the abductors would increase the anxiety and would not do any good, he added.

Ruling out the possibility of sending troops to Iraq in the light of the latest development, he said, "the question does not arise."

"We are making all efforts to ensure their early release and safe return," he said adding that the kidnapped persons were non-government persons driving trucks of a private company and had "nothing to do with the war or post-war developments" in Iraq.

`Not combatants'

The Government was in touch with the authorities of Iraq and Kuwait as well as with the embassies of the United States and Kuwait in New Delhi. "We have all been shocked and distressed at the kidnapping. This is a serious development," Mr. Singh said and appealed to "all those who have influence to assist in ensuring their safe return."

"The hostages," he said, "are not combatants but innocent people of a friendly country. Whatever [the] objective of these people who kidnapped them [it] is surely wrong. As it is they don't have any sympathy, but to do this to Indians, Egyptians and Kenyans will only arouse passions and emotions."

Mr. Singh said India was also in touch with the Egyptian and Kenyan envoys in New Delhi. "Naturally we are very anxious," he said, hoping that "this dark period is over and they [hostages] get back to their families as soon as possible."

Mr. Singh's appeal is being aired on the Arabic television channel, Al-Jazeera.