J-10
06-29-2004, 10:57 PM
3 Turkish hostages freed in Iraq
Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 8:17 AM EDT (1217 GMT)
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Three Turkish citizens held hostage in Iraq have been freed by militants who had earlier threatened to behead them, the Turkish foreign minister has said.
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/meast/06/29/iraq.turkey/story.turk.hostages.jpg
The Arabic-language television network Al Jazeera reported earlier Tuesday a group led by Jordanian-born Islamic militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had freed the men contractors, who were kidnapped last week.
"For the sake of you, our brothers, and Muslims of the people of Turkey ... we will release these hostages and send them safely home," the statement said.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told state television on Tuesday: "Our citizens have been released. We've struggled a lot for their release. We are glad to hear this news."
Turkish media reports have identified the three, who are believed to be contractors, as Mustafa Bal, Mehmet Bakir and Abdulselam Bakir, all Turkish Kurds from Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeast.
The militants said they decided to free the Turks "after they pledged not to support the non-believers again," meaning stop working for U.S. forces.
"Please stop your silly (leaders) from cooperating with the occupying enemy, or else we will execute the punishment," the statement added.
The release came as NATO leaders met for a second day in Istanbul.
The leaders have agreed to offer training to security forces of the new interim government.
Those attending the summit include U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Also Tuesday, Al-Jazeera reported it had received a statement and a videotape from militants who claimed to have killed 20-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Matt Maupin, missing since April.
The network aired a video of Maupin speaking that closely resembled a tape from his captors soon after his capture April 9.
Meanwhile, U.S. Marines were killed and wounded when a roadside bomb exploded as their Humvee passed by in Baghdad on Tuesday morning, according to U.S. troops on the scene.
The improvised explosive device hit the lead vehicle in a Marine convoy, resulting in "a few wounded and killed in action," according to a U.S. soldier who was supervising the removal of the damaged Humvee.
On Monday, the U.S.-led coalition handed over power to the interim Iraqi government.
The interim government was sworn in Monday after the United States returned sovereignty to the nation two days ahead of schedule.
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/29/iraq.turkey/index.html)
Tuesday, June 29, 2004 Posted: 8:17 AM EDT (1217 GMT)
ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Three Turkish citizens held hostage in Iraq have been freed by militants who had earlier threatened to behead them, the Turkish foreign minister has said.
http://i.a.cnn.net/cnn/2004/WORLD/meast/06/29/iraq.turkey/story.turk.hostages.jpg
The Arabic-language television network Al Jazeera reported earlier Tuesday a group led by Jordanian-born Islamic militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi had freed the men contractors, who were kidnapped last week.
"For the sake of you, our brothers, and Muslims of the people of Turkey ... we will release these hostages and send them safely home," the statement said.
Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul told state television on Tuesday: "Our citizens have been released. We've struggled a lot for their release. We are glad to hear this news."
Turkish media reports have identified the three, who are believed to be contractors, as Mustafa Bal, Mehmet Bakir and Abdulselam Bakir, all Turkish Kurds from Turkey's Kurdish-dominated southeast.
The militants said they decided to free the Turks "after they pledged not to support the non-believers again," meaning stop working for U.S. forces.
"Please stop your silly (leaders) from cooperating with the occupying enemy, or else we will execute the punishment," the statement added.
The release came as NATO leaders met for a second day in Istanbul.
The leaders have agreed to offer training to security forces of the new interim government.
Those attending the summit include U.S. President George Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Also Tuesday, Al-Jazeera reported it had received a statement and a videotape from militants who claimed to have killed 20-year-old U.S. Army Spc. Matt Maupin, missing since April.
The network aired a video of Maupin speaking that closely resembled a tape from his captors soon after his capture April 9.
Meanwhile, U.S. Marines were killed and wounded when a roadside bomb exploded as their Humvee passed by in Baghdad on Tuesday morning, according to U.S. troops on the scene.
The improvised explosive device hit the lead vehicle in a Marine convoy, resulting in "a few wounded and killed in action," according to a U.S. soldier who was supervising the removal of the damaged Humvee.
On Monday, the U.S.-led coalition handed over power to the interim Iraqi government.
The interim government was sworn in Monday after the United States returned sovereignty to the nation two days ahead of schedule.
CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/06/29/iraq.turkey/index.html)