Captors threaten hostage's life
2006-01-03 17:23
Dubai - The kidnappers of a Jordanian embassy driver in Iraq gave a new three-day ultimatum to execute him if Amman fails to release a would-be suicide bomber, Al-Arabiya satellite channel reported on Tuesday.
"They threatened to kill the hostage unless the Jordanian government fulfils their demands... within three days," said the Dubai-based channel. The channel showed a video clip of the hostage sitting on a chair in front of three gunmen wearing masks.
On December 26 the same group gave Amman an initial three-day ultimatum on a videotape.
The hostage, identified as Mahmud Salman Saaidiyat, is a driver for the Jordanian ambassador to Iraq. He was snatched in southern Baghdad on December 20.
The kidnappers demand the release of an Iraqi woman suspected of involvement in triple-suicide bombings in the Jordanian capital on November 9.
Iraqi Sajida Atrous al-Rishawi was arrested in Jordan for her suspected involvement in the suicide bomb attacks that killed dozens of people and were claimed by the al-Qaeda group of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
In a confession broadcast on Jordanian television, Rishawi said her explosive belt failed to work.
Jordanian authorities have rejected any possibility of negotiating with the kidnappers.