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Turkey Rejects Demands on Fate of Iraq Hostages
Al-Rooters; EFLTurkey rejected Sunday the demands of militants threatening to behead three Turks held hostage in Iraq during President Bushâs visit to Turkey and on the eve of the formal start of Iraqi self-rule. Militants loyal to suspected al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi said in a statement to Al Jazeera television on Saturday that the three hostages would be executed within 72 hours unless Turks stopped working with U.S.-led forces in Iraq. "Militants" huh? "Turkey has been fighting terrorist activity for more than 20 years," Turkish Defense Minister Vecdi Gonul told reporters in Istanbul. "They ask many things, they demand many things. We never consider them with seriousness." I need to remember that line, thatâs great! Jazeera showed footage of the three hostages crouching in front of masked gunmen and holding up their passports. Turkey is not part of the U.S.-led force in Iraq but many nationals work as drivers and support staff for U.S. forces. As has been said before here - killing other Muslims will be remembered as AQâs biggest, and fatal, mistake Posted by: Frank G 2004-06-27 |
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