AP: New video shows 5 kidnapped in Iraq

[Eugene]

Wednesday, January 3, 2007 · Last updated 8:48 a.m. PT

New video shows 5 kidnapped in Iraq

By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

BAGHDAD, Iraq -- Four Americans and an Austrian abducted in November in southern
Iraq spoke briefly and appeared uninjured in a video believed to have been recorded
nearly two weeks ago and delivered Wednesday to The Associated Press.

The men - security contractors for the Crescent Security Group based in Kuwait -
appeared separately on the edited video, and three of them said they were being
treated well. They were kidnapped Nov. 16 when suspected militiamen in Iraqi police
uniforms ambushed a convoy of trucks being escorted by Crescent Security on a
highway near the southern border city of Safwan.

"My name is John R. Young," one captive in a blue and white sweat suit said in the
video. "I'm 44 years old. I'm from Kansas City, Missouri. The date is 21 December,
2006. I'm well, my friends are well, we've been treated well."

Another man identified himself as Jon Cote of Buffalo, N.Y. Fidgeting and appearing
uncomfortable, he said: "I can't be released until the prisoners from the American
jails and the British jails are released."

-snip-

Full article: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/1107AP_Iraq_Kidnapped_Contractors.html