Filipino kidnapped in Iraq
2004-07-08 00:25
Cairo - The pan-Arab TV channel al-Jazeera broadcast on Wednesday a videotape that purportedly shows armed men holding a Filipino hostage in Iraq.
The al-Jazeera newscaster said the group had offered to release the hostage if the Philippines withdraws its troops from Iraq within 72 hours.
Three armed men stood behind the seated hostage with a banner behind that said the group's name was the Iraqi Islamic
Army - Khaled bin al-Waleed corps.
The videotape displayed the hostage's Philippines identity card, which gave the name Hafidh Amer. The name suggests he is a Muslim.
The group, which has not been heard of previously, took the name Khaled bin al-Waleed from one of the commanders of the army of Islam's Prophet Muhammad. The Prophet gave him the title "Sword of Islam."
Al-Jazeera spokesperson Jihad Ballout said the channel received the videotape on Wednesday.
The tape did not say how it kidnapped Amer nor did it give his occupation.
The Philippines has deployed 51 soldiers, police officers and health workers to the multinational force in Iraq.
In addition, about 4 100 Filipinos are working in US military bases in Iraq as cooks and maintenance technicians.
It was not immediately clear what Amer was doing in Iraq.
- AP