"U.S. Allies Defiant; New Hostages Taken"

[GreenPartyVoter]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) - A militant group said Wednesday it had taken six more hostages - three Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian - and would behead them if their countries did not immediately announce the withdrawal of their citizens from Iraq. The U.S. death toll since the start of the war rose to 900 when a roadside bomb killed a soldier.

The seizure of the hostages came a day after a Filipino truck driver was released in exchange for Manila's withdrawal of its 51-member troop contingent - a move criticized by Washington and other allies as encouraging more abductions.

Those fears seemed to be realized with the new kidnappings.

In a statement given to The Associated Press, the group, calling itself "The Holders of the Black Banners," said it had abducted the six truckers and would behead one of them every 72 hours starting at 8 p.m. (noon EDT) Wednesday if their nations did not pull out of Iraq and the company they work for did not close its branch here.

http://apnews1.iwon.com//article/20040721/D83V97T80.html?PG=home&SEC=news

[Larkspur]

1. I'm sure the Filipino truck driver is grateful to be alive

W's neck isn't on the line, just the peasants caught up in his war.