Kidnapped SA men 'still alive'
17/01/2007 12:09  - (SA)  

Want to know more? Answerit can help.

34 000 Iraqis killed in 2006 SA men still missing in Iraq SA men still missing in Iraq Iraqi cops deny hostages freed Abductions: Iraq minister quits

Pretoria - Four South Africans abducted in Iraq a month ago are still alive, foreign affairs deputy minister Aziz Pahad said on Wednesday.

Pahad said the men's captors had told negotiators they were safe and that negotiations to free them continued.

"Of course this is their word," Pahad said, adding that there was no independent confirmation of the men's health.

He said negotiations were difficult because South Africa did not have a mission in Iraq. It had organised talks through its embassy in Jordan.

The four men and five Iraqis were snatched at a roadblock in northern Baghdad on December 10. The Iraqis were released two days later.

The South Africans are employed by Safenet Security Services, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands and contracted to the United States department of defence.

Their names have not been released.

- SAPA

What is this? Yahoo Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Brought to you by OUTsurance Car Insurance
	News24 Headlines on your Facebook profile		News24 on mobile