chauncy republicans
06-21-2004, 04:33 AM
June 21, 2004
Report: Others Held With S. Korean in Iraq
Jun 21, 03:42 AM EDT
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- As many as 10 foreigners are being held captive with a South Korean recently abducted by militants in Iraq, a South Korean news report said Monday.
The group included a European journalist and "third country" employees for the U.S.-based contractor Kellogg Brown & Root, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing the employer of the South Korean victim.
Kim Chun-ho, head of South Korea's Gana General Trading, Co., told a Yonhap reporter in Baghdad by phone from Mosul that some of the abductees were seen by an Iraqi go-between who had visited the kidnappers to try negotiating the South Korean's release.
On Sunday, the Arab satellite TV network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape purportedly from al-Qaida-linked militants showing the South Korean hostage begging for his life and pleading with his government to withdraw troops from Iraq. The militants have threatened to kill the captive if Seoul does not pull its soldiers.
South Korean media identified the hostage as Kim Sun-il, 33, an employee of South Korea's Gana General Trading, Co., a supplier for the U.S. military.
Kim was abducted on June 17, and his employer tried to negotiate his freedom before notifying the South Korean government, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said earlier Monday.
The ministry said it was aware of the report that other foreigners were being held, but could not confirm it.
Report: Others Held With S. Korean in Iraq
Jun 21, 03:42 AM EDT
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- As many as 10 foreigners are being held captive with a South Korean recently abducted by militants in Iraq, a South Korean news report said Monday.
The group included a European journalist and "third country" employees for the U.S.-based contractor Kellogg Brown & Root, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported, citing the employer of the South Korean victim.
Kim Chun-ho, head of South Korea's Gana General Trading, Co., told a Yonhap reporter in Baghdad by phone from Mosul that some of the abductees were seen by an Iraqi go-between who had visited the kidnappers to try negotiating the South Korean's release.
On Sunday, the Arab satellite TV network Al-Jazeera aired a videotape purportedly from al-Qaida-linked militants showing the South Korean hostage begging for his life and pleading with his government to withdraw troops from Iraq. The militants have threatened to kill the captive if Seoul does not pull its soldiers.
South Korean media identified the hostage as Kim Sun-il, 33, an employee of South Korea's Gana General Trading, Co., a supplier for the U.S. military.
Kim was abducted on June 17, and his employer tried to negotiate his freedom before notifying the South Korean government, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said earlier Monday.
The ministry said it was aware of the report that other foreigners were being held, but could not confirm it.