Khartoum follows up Sudanese hostage in Iraq

KHARTOUM, Oct 31, 2004 (Xinhua) — The Sudanese Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it has formed a committee to follow up the issue of a Sudanese national abducted in Iraq.

In a press statement, Sudanese State Minister for Foreign Affairs Tijani Fideil said the committee was formed by senior ambassadors immediately after the ministry received the news about the issue.

An Iraqi resistance group announced Saturday that it abducted the Sudanese national Nur-Addin Zakaria, a translator working for an American company.

The kidnappers asked the American company to quit Iraq in return for Zakaria’s release.

Fideil pointed out that the Sudanese embassy in Baghdad reviewed its archives, but did not find a citizen named Zakaria.

But it did not rule out that the kidnapped was sent to Iraq by the American company from outside the country.

He said the hostage’s family had not contacted the Foreign Ministry yet.

He expressed hope that Zakaria would be released safe, saying that he was just a translator and had no relation with security or military units.

The official warned also Sudanese nationals working in Iraq to be cautious and carefull, especially those working with American companies.