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| Iraq-Jordan |
| Al-Jazeera Airs Hostage Footage |
| 2004-05-16 |
| The Arab news network Al-Jazeera broadcast footage Sunday of two Russian hostages held in Iraq, and read a statement from a group that demanded foreign troops withdraw from the country. The brief footage showed the two men, seemingly in good health, sitting against a wall. One of the men was drinking out of a metal cup, while the other was sitting nearby. The men seemed to be talking with other people in the room, who were not shown. Al-Jazeera spokesman Jihad Ballout said the video was received Sunday, but he would not say how. The statement, from a group calling itself the Army of Al-Ta’ifah al-Mansurah (the victorious sect), said it had kidnapped the Russians and demanded that foreign countries withdraw their troops from Iraq. A copy of the statement, read by an Al-Jazeera announcer, was shown on half of the screen. The Russians, employees of Interenergoservis, were attacked last Monday in Musayyib, about 60 kilometers south of Baghdad, where they worked at the Southern Baghdad power station, said a Russian diplomat in Baghdad. One other worker was killed in the attack. |
| Posted by:TS(vice girl) |