Tues "The Australian"
Ultimatum to Howard: pull out within 24 hours or hostages die
Correspondents in Samarra
September 14, 2004
TWO Australians reportedly have been kidnapped in Iraq and threatened with execution within 24 hours unless John Howard withdraws Australian troops from the war-torn country.
The Australians, said to be security guards, were apparently taken, along with their two Asian clients, by the Sunni Muslim insurgent Islamic Secret Army on the highway between Baghdad and the northern city of Mosul.
If confirmed, the kidnapping, which follows last week's bombing of the Australian embassy in Jakarta, will throw the Australian election campaign into further turmoil and provide the electorate with a sharp focus on national security. Opposition Leader Mark Latham has promised to bring home the troops by Christmas if elected.
The statement handed out in the Sunni insurgency bastion of Samarra last night gave Canberra a 24-hour deadline to end its interests in Iraq or see the hostages executed. But there has been no confirmation of the statement's authenticity.
"One of our brave brigades ambushed civilian cars belonging to the American army on the motorway from Baghdad to Mosul," the statement says.
"It took four prisoners, two Australians and two East Asian nationals, who were working as security contractors for important people.
"We tell the infidels of Australia that they have 24 hours to leave Iraq or the two Australians will be killed without a second chance.
"The Prime Minister must announce the withdrawal personally if he is concerned about his two citizens."
A spokesman for Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said Canberra was moving heaven and earth to investigate the claims.
"We have no more information," the spokesman said. "Obviously, through the department, we are checking this out as a matter of priority.
"We are in contact with our embassy in Baghdad and obviously other contacts in Iraq."
The self-styled Horror Brigades calls itself the northern armed wing of the Secret Islamic Army, whose Holders of the Black Banners unit claimed the execution of two Pakistani hostages in late July. Earlier this month, an Egyptian, three Indian and three Kenyan truck drivers were freed six weeks after they were taken hostage by the Black Banners brigade. They were released after the kidnappers repeatedly had changed their demands and extended deadlines set for killing the seven.
Mr Downer made clear his disappointment at President Gloria Arroyo's decision in July to withdraw The Philippines' 51-strong contingent from Iraq in exchange for the life of truck driver Angelo de la Cruz.
Mr Downer and Mr Howard have made it quite clear in the past that they will not negotiate with terrorists, even if it would mean the death of an Australian hostage.
Australia has about 920 troops in the region, but on the ground in Iraq there are only about 300 soldiers guarding the diplomatic precinct in Baghdad and training the Iraqi army and navy.
The World Socialist website reported in May that as many as 40 former members of the Australian Special Air Service, who served during the war, were working in Iraq as security guards.
Italy launched a fresh diplomatic drive yesterday to save the lives of two women hostages -- aid workers Simona Pari and Simona Torretta -- threatened with execution in Iraq, sending Foreign Minister Franco Frattini to Kuwait after being criticised for not doing enough to save the life of an Italian journalist, Enzo Baldoni, kidnapped and executed by the Islamic Army last month.
Italy, a key US ally in Iraq, has rejected a purported 24-hour ultimatum from an Islamist group that is threatening to kill the two women if Rome does not with withdraw its 3000 troops.
The group that kidnapped Baldoni is holding two French journalists hostage. Their fate remains unknown.
Scores of nationals from more than two dozen countries have been kidnapped since April, when guerillas embarked on new tactics to force foreign troops and firms to leave Iraq. About two dozen foreign hostages have been killed, some of them beheaded.
AFP
============================================