Hostages: US won't negotiate

2004-04-18 17:24

Washington - White House national security adviser Condoleezza Rice said on Sunday the United States would not negotiate with hostage-takers in Iraq, but did not specifically address the possibility of a prisoner swap.

"The president of the United States doesn't negotiate with terrorists," she told ABC television.

Rice refused to comment on the possibility of an exchange of prisoners.

"The worst thing the United States of America can do is to give an idea to terrorists and to people who want to intimidate that somehow their intimidation techniques are going to be rewarded," she said.

"We're looking at what we can do. The people on the ground are doing everything that they can to find a way to deal with the hostages."

- AFP