In the latest group of foreign hostage-takings, seven Chinese citizens have been kidnapped in Iraq.

Seven Chinese citizens have become the latest foreigners to be kidnapped in Iraq, the Chinese government said, and pledged no efforts would be spared to rescue them. The seven workers entered Iraq from Jordan early Sunday and were abducted in the flashpoint city of Fallujah, west of Baghdad, the foreign ministry and a Chinese diplomat in the Iraqi capital said.

....The kidnappings came a day before US Vice President Dick Cheney was due to arrive in Beijing Tuesday straight from a visit to Tokyo overshadowed by the kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq.

China opposed the war in Iraq and did not send any troops there. It also was friendly to Saddam Hussein's regime.

There are reportedly now 30 foreigners who have been taken hostage in Iraq this week. The three Japanese citizens and American Thomas Hamill have not yet been released. 8 other hostages, including one from Britain, have been released. Two Germans are missing and their Government has said they are presumed dead.

Update: China reports they have now been released.

[comments now closed]