7 Chinese kidnapped in Iraq

[Aussie E]

From www.theaustralian.news.com.au

Seven Chinese 'held hostage in Iraq'

April 12, 2004
SEVEN Chinese citizens have reportedly been kidnapped by armed men in central Iraq.

China's state media reported the abductions today, quoting a Chinese diplomat in Baghdad.

The claim came ahead of a visit by US Vice President **** Cheney to Beijing.

He will fly in from Tokyo, where his visit has been overshadowed by the kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq.

[American Patriot]

Tough crowd to please for Cheney. I hope he represents my country well.

[HELEX]

:cantbeli:

I think they will not be very usefull Hostages....

[Brozozo]

What are Chinese doin in Iraq?

[Aussie E]

My guess is that they were there looking for business opertunities or something to copy.

[Brozozo]

My guess is that they were there looking for business opertunities or something to copy.

Probably mostly the latter...

[HELEX]

Maybe looking for military equipment in use and tactics...

[Brozozo]

Maybe looking for military equipment in use and tactics...

What I'm sayin...

[Kilgor]

Ummmm.. probably industry and sales.

China does make alot of stuff you know.

Totally the wrong government to piss off too.

[xjym2002]

Ummmm.. probably industry and sales.

China does make alot of stuff you know.

Totally the wrong government to piss off too.

True. They are most probably seeking money there.
Wish them good luck.

[usa320]

Indeed- my prayers are with all these hostages. Hopefully the Iraqis will either let em free, or HR teams will kick ass...

[xjym2002]

Indeed- my prayers are with all these hostages. Hopefully the Iraqis will either let em free

Thanks. My wishes are with all hostages too, and with all, Iraqis and Coalitions and all others except terrorists.


or HR teams will kick ass...

Highly doubt our government would send HR. There are only 6 armed polices in Chinese Ambassy there.

[SpikeATGM]

Indeed- my prayers are with all these hostages. Hopefully the Iraqis will either let em free

Thanks. My wishes are with all hostages too, and with all, Iraqis and Coalitions and all others except terrorists.


or HR teams will kick ass...

Highly doubt our government would send HR. There are only 6 armed polices in Chinese Ambassy there.

The chinese goverment won't even dare to raise a single voice when the muslim are terrorizing the ethnic chinese in Indonesia and i don't expect they will do much this time round eve though this time it their own citizen.

I do not have high regard with the chinese govement.

[He219]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040412/i/r2802119635.jpg

Television image aired April 12, 2004 by Arabic television Al Jazeera shows Chinese hostages released to an Iraqi Sunni Muslim clerical body which then handed them over to Chinese diplomats. The television showed a Chinese diplomat welcoming the release of the hostages. GERMANY OUT *******/Al Jazeera

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040412/i/r1864675596.jpg

Television image aired April 12, 2004 by Arabic television Al Jazeera shows Chinese hostages released to an Iraqi Sunni Muslim clerical body (R) which then handed them over to Chinese diplomats. The television showed a Chinese diplomat welcoming the release of the hostages. +++GERMANY OUT+++ *******/Al Jazeera

[Javehn]

I don't get it . So , up until know Chinese , Russkies , Chechs , US citizens and Brits were kidnapped ?? What's going on there , for feck sake ? Soon they gonna kidnap each other, and kill each other out .

[*Teryan*]

I dont think it would be a good thing if sheits started kidnapping kurds. :(

[Brozozo]

http://us.news1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/rids/20040412/i/r2802119635.jpg

That Chinese guy on the far right seems pretty relaxed and comfortable for a hostage...

[Aussie E]

from www.theaustralian.news.com.au


Released hostages 'in good spirits'

April 13, 2004
SEVEN Chinese men kidnapped by gunmen in Iraq have been released in good spirits and some of them want to forge ahead with plans to open a construction business there despite their ordeal, China's Government said today.

The announcement that the men were released and turned over to Chinese diplomats came hours before the arrival in Beijing of US Vice President **** Cheney, removing a potentially thorny issue during a visit expected to focus on Iraq.

The men were captured Sunday in the city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, after entering Iraq from Jordan and were released late Monday to an Iraqi religious group, the Foreign Ministry said. They were then passed on to diplomats.

"Their health and spirits are good," the brief Foreign Ministry statement said.

The men went to Iraq on their own to start a construction materials business - a venture some of them were still "determined to open" despite their harrowing experience, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

After their release, the men were staying with the Chinese owner of a Baghdad restaurant.

China's Government had appealed to Iraqi authorities to find and rescue the men and warned other Chinese to avoid Iraq.

Two of the men were injured in a car accident before their capture Sunday and needed medical care, Xinhua said. It didn't give any details of the injuries and said the others were in good condition.

The men ran off the road as they tried to bypass Fallujah, the scene of fighting between US forces and Iraqi insurgents, Xinhua said, citing one of the men, Xue Yougui, 29. It said they were then "taken away by local fighters".

The gunmen turned over the hostages to the Association of Islamic Clerics following its appeal for the release of civilian hostages, Xinhua quoted a spokesman for the group as saying.

The armed men "did not abduct them just for kidnapping but because the region was a battlefield and they should investigate any suspects," said the spokesman, Sheikh Abdul Salam al-Kubaisi.

Some of the hostages said they were "treated kindly" and provided with food and medical aid by their captors, Xinhua said.

Middle Eastern TV broadcaster Al-Jazeera showed the Chinese hostages and a Chinese Embassy official thanking the religious group for securing their release. Al-Jazeera said a letter sent with the group identified the kidnappers as "Abou Obeida al-Jarah Brigade".

"Those (kidnappers) have came across not as terrorists, and not as followers of such or such regime, but as the sons of Iraq, who are defending their popular resistance in Fallujah," Mr al-Kobeisi said.

Iraqi gunmen have also abducted other foreign nationals, including three Japanese civilians seized by a group threatening to burn them alive if Japan does not withdraw its non-combat troops from Iraq. Sunday's deadline came and went with no word on their fate.

China hasn't contributed any troops to the US-led military force.

The 10 Chinese companies operating in Iraq have reportedly told their approximately 40 Chinese employees to reduce non-business activities and have hired Iraqi security guards