UK: Willing to 'listen to' but not talk with kidnappers

Above: A soldier stands guard at the British embassy in Baghdad today. Britons in Iraq have been warned of possible further kidnappings to increase pressure for a British withdrawal.

Britain's ambassador to Iraq said on Thursday he was willing to listen to the kidnappers of five Britons abducted in Baghdad last week but ruled out negotiating with them.

"We have people here in Iraq who are ready to listen to any person about this incident, or any person who may be holding these men and who may wish to communicate," envoy Dominic Asquith said at a news conference.

"I am greatly concerned about these five men. I ask those holding them to release them so they may return to their families. We will do everything in our power to help them and their families and see them runited."

Read the rest at Reuters/Alternet

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