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Manila bars workers after kidnap
The Philippines has barred any more workers from traveling to Iraq, after Arabic news network Al-Jazeera reported that a militant group had kidnapped a Filipino man. While President Gloria Macapagal Arroyoâs order applied to contract workers, the government has yet to respond to the kidnappersâ demand to withdraw Philippine troops. But reports of the hostage taking are expected to top the agenda when the Philippine government holds its cabinet meeting Thursday. The Philippines, a staunch ally of the United States, initially contributed about 100 troops to the U.S.-led occupation of Iraq. There are now just over 50 Filipino troops in Iraq, serving as part of a U.N.-mandated, American-led multinational force to assist the Iraqi interim government in providing security.Meanwhile, at least 4,000 Filipino civilians are working in U.S. military bases in Iraq as cooks, mechanics or in other jobs. The president also offered government help for any workers who wanted to come home. Gilberto Asuque, a spokesman for the Philippines Department of Foreign Affairs, said a team has been established to work with the charge dâaffairs in Baghdad. "Our priority is to establish the identity of the hostage," Asuque said. The governmentâs Middle East envoy, Ambassador Roy Cimatu, said he was flying to Iraq later on Thursday to assess the situation. Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-07-08 |
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