South Korean hostages freed

2004-04-08 18:19

Seoul - Seven South Korean missionaries who were detained in Iraq by armed men have been released, South Korea's SBS and YTN news networks reported early on Friday from Iraq.

South Korea's foreign ministry in Seoul said it could not confirm whether they'd been freed.

"Our embassy in Iraq is trying to confirm the report," said Lee Kwang-jae, director-general of middle eastern affairs at the foreign ministry.

Late on Thursday, the ministry said the seven were detained by unidentified "armed men" in Iraq and their condition and whereabouts were unknown.

South Korea's National Security Council called a snap meeting for Friday morning to review the situation and the escalating violence in Iraq as it makes final preparations to deploy troops there.

Separately, three Japanese civilians have also been abducted by an armed group in Iraq, who reportedly threatened to kill them unless Japan withdraws its forces from the US-led coalition.

The eight South Koreans had been driving overnight on Wednesday from Amman, Jordan, to Baghdad in two cars when they were stopped by "armed men" who began an inspection, then dragged the occupants from the vehicles and confiscated their passports, the ministry said in a statement.

- AP