Iraq abductors seek 12 million dollars for Germans

[Barrett808]

BERLIN - Kidnappers of two German engineers seized in Iraq 11 weeks ago are seeking a ransom of 12 million dollars, the news magazine Focus reported on Friday.

The sum was conveyed to the German Foreign Ministry by Iraqi mediators working to obtain the men’s release, the magazine quoted sources in the security services as saying.

A Foreign Ministry spokesman declined to comment on the report.

After studying a video released by the kidnappers April 9, the government in Berlin believes the two hostages might have been “sold” by their original abductors to a criminal gang, Focus said in its online edition.

...

“We’ve been in captivity here for more than 60 days. We are at the end of our tether. We can’t stand it any longer. Help us please,” Nitzschke said in German in the video which appeared on an Islamist website.

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[LisaM]

1. I wouldn't be surprised if some ransoms are being paid

There are millions of dollars in cash that have just vanished. And hostages continue to be taken (and in some cases released) - what other explanation is there?