Iraqi Terrorists Release Egyptian Diplomat

[American Patriot]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,126970,00.html


Kidnappers Free Egyptian Diplomat :backhand:
Monday, July 26, 2004

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Egyptian foreign ministry said Monday its diplomat kidnapped by militants in Iraq has been released.

Mohammed Mamdouh Helmi Qutb (search), described as the third-ranking diplomat at the Egyptian mission in Baghdad (search), was snatched Friday as he walked out of a mosque. In a video released by "The Lions of Allah Brigade," the militants said they had taken Qutb to deter Egypt from sending troops.

His kidnapping was a signal the insurgents were starting to target higher-ranking foreigners. :backhand:

Copyright 2004 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. Fair and Balanced.

[Midav]

They didn't want to bite off more than what they could chew.

[Pille1234]

Sources: Egypt paid ransom for diplomat

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The Egyptian government paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to secure the release of an Egyptian diplomat who had been kidnapped by Iraqi insurgents last week, sources in Baghdad told CNN Tuesday.

Egyptian officials deny paying any ransom for Momdoh Kotb, the country's third-ranking diplomat in Iraq.

A spokesman for the Foreign Ministry in Cairo told CNN the release took place "under the umbrella of good relations between brotherly people."

U.S. and Iraqi officials strongly discourage paying ransom -- or acquiescing to kidnappers' demands in any way -- for fear it will inspire insurgents to use the tactic more frequently.

But a security source in Baghdad told CNN that hundreds of thousands of dollars were paid to a group calling itself the Lions of God Brigade for Kotb's release.

Another highly placed Iraqi source confirmed that a ransom was paid, but added that Egypt made no concessions regarding its security commitment to Iraq.

Kotb was taken hostage Thursday while leaving a mosque where he had attended evening prayers. He arrived at Egypt's embassy in Baghdad at about 11 p.m. Monday (3 p.m. ET), according to acting Egyptian Ambassador Karim Sharaf.

The kidnappers made no demands, saying they took the diplomat hostage in response to Egypt's offer to help with security matters in Iraq.

Adding another layer to Egypt's denial that a ransom was paid, Kotb's liberation came moments after Qatar-based Al-Jazeera TV network aired a videotape on which the narrator said the hostage-takers declined to accept a large amount of money that had been offered them in exchange for the diplomat's release.

The narrator added that Kotb was being released because he was a polite, religious man.

Insurgents in Iraq still hold at least 11 other foreigners -- including an Egyptian trucker -- and one Iraqi while making demands that their companies cease cooperating with the U.S. military or end their operations in Iraq. A previously unknown militant group announced it was holding two Pakistanis and an Iraqi as hostages, a videotape broadcast Monday on Al-Jazeera showed. (Full story)

Another group, calling itself the Mujahedeen Corps, said it had captured two Jordanians and threatened to kill them if their company, Rami al-Ouweiss, did not stop working with the U.S. military.

Associated Press Television News aired the video of the militants and the Jordanians.

Kidnappers holding seven truck drivers captive again extended their deadline as negotiators worked to win their release, according to a videotape on Al-Jazeera.

The video showed the truck drivers seated in front of three masked gunmen. On the wall behind them was a banner reading, "Islamic Secret Army, Black Banners Brigades."

In announcing the deadline extension, the group demanded the truckers' employer, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Co. (KGL), stop operations in the country. It warned the Indian government to stop its "irresponsible attack[s]" on the kidnappers. The hostages include three Indians and three Kenyans.

The kidnappings are part of a wave of abductions by insurgents since the release of a Filipino hostage. The hostage was released when the Philippines agreed to remove its 51-member peace contingent a month ahead of schedule.