The eight Chinese nationals taken hostage in Iraq have now been
named: Lin Qiang (39 years old), Wei Wu (19), Zhou Sunlin (18), Lin
Bin (39), Lin Zhong (38), Chen Qin'ai (37), Zhou Sunqin (17) and
Lin Xiong (34).
Chinese President Hu
Jintao, Premier Wen
Jiabao, and other leaders are concerned about security of the
eight Chinese hostages in Iraq, and ordered the Foreign Ministry
and Chinese Embassy to Iraq to take effective measures to rescue
the hostages, according to sources from the Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese Embassy in Baghdad had earlier confirmed that the eight
had been kidnapped by militants, and pledged that the government
would spare no effort to secure their release.
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A video aired by Qatar-based Aljazeera TV showed eight hostages
holding Chinese passports standing in a row, flanked by masked
militants who read a statement, demanding that the Chinese
government clarify its stance on Iraq.
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Another part of the statement said they could free the hostages on
condition that they "quit their work with the occupation
forces."
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In a handwritten note delivered with the tape, the insurgent group
calling itself al-Numan Brigades threatened to "kill the eight
within 48 hours" unless China met their demands.
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Sources told Xinhua that the kidnapped Chinese, from the eastern
province of Fujian,
were construction workers who had been working on a project to
rebuild an Iraqi plant in the southern city of Najaf.
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They said the project, signed with Iraq's interim government, has
nothing to do with US-led multinational forces.
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Embassy diplomats said they were making all efforts to rescue the
hostages, who went missing last week while traveling to
Jordan.
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All eight went to Iraq independently to look for work there, said
Kong.
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He added that they had rented an automobile to leave the country
but were kidnapped on the way. "The Chinese people cherish their
friendship with the people of Iraq and have always sympathized with
and supported them."?
?
All of the hostages are from Pingtan County, where many people,
especially farmers from Zhonglou Village of Aodong Town and
Lancheng Village of Liushui Town, go abroad for work.
They often use the services of China Futong International
Economic Cooperation, a company registered by the provincial
government, but it is unconfirmed as to whether they were involved
in this instance.
(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency,January 19, 2005)