Firm Halts Iraq Work to Save 10 Hostages
By SELCAN HACAOGLU, Associated Press Writer
ANKARA, Turkey - A Turkish construction company announced Tuesday that it was halting operations in neighboring Iraq in a bid to save the lives of 10 employees kidnapped by militants.
Meanwhile, state TRT television reported the body of a Turk, identified as Akar Besir, was found early Tuesday near Mosul. The report said Besir was employed as a driver for a firm working for the U.S. military and was kidnapped on Saturday. No other details were immediately available.
Earlier Tuesday, Tahsin Top, a Turkish hostage in Iraq whose company withdrew from Iraq was released by his kidnappers, the Foreign Ministry said.
Top had been abducted north of Baghdad on Aug. 5 by kidnappers who threatened to behead him if his Turkish employer did not withdraw from Iraq. Top's company, Atahan Lojistik International, later withdrew from Iraq. The kidnappers then demanded $45,000 for Top's release. It was not clear if any money was paid.
The Ankara-based VINSAN construction company said in a statement it was freezing operations and added that its 10 kidnapped employees were innocent and were trying to support their families.
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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040921/ap_on_re_as/turkey_iraq_hostages&cid=516&ncid=1480
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