BAGHDAD, Jan. 21 (UPI) -- The fate of eight Chinese hostages held in Iraq remained unknown as their kidnappers' 48-hour deadline passed, despite China's efforts to secure their release.
The eight were shown in a video broadcast Tuesday on the Arabic al-Jazeera television station, guarded by masked gunmen. The kidnappers accused them of working for U.S. forces, and threatened to execute them unless Beijing "clarified its role" in Iraq within 48 hours.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said China had always sympathized with and supported the Iraqi people, Xinhua news agency reported Friday. Kong said the Chinese workers had gone to Iraq in search of work and were preparing to leave the country after failing to find jobs when they were kidnapped.
The hostages, aged between 17 and 39, are all from Fujian province in southern China.
China's embassy in Iraq has reportedly sought help from the Islamic Scholars Association, which secured the release of seven Chinese hostages in a kidnapping last April. Association chairman Harith Al-Dhari told Xinhua that since the kidnappers claimed to be Muslim, he was confident the hostages would be released.
