American Seen Held Hostage in Iraq -Television

MyWay News ^

[Happy2BMe]

Apr 10, 10:20 AM (ET)

LONDON (Reuters) - Television footage on Saturday showed an American, apparently a civilian, being held hostage by Iraqi guerrillas.

Britain's Sky News aired film from Australia's ABC showing the man saying he had been seized after a convoy was attacked.

The Pentagon had said on Friday that several civilian contractors and two U.S. soldiers were missing after a military fuel convoy was ambushed on the main highway west of Baghdad.

"They attacked our convoy," the American said, sitting beside a hooded gunman in the back of a car before it sped off past a burning tanker truck on a major road.

Speaking with a southern accent, the middle-aged American gave his name as Thomas Hamill. He was wearing casual clothes.

In Washington, a Pentagon official said he was aware of the footage but could make no further comment on it. Up to four civilians may be missing after Friday's convoy attack, he added.

"I had as few as two and as many as four. But I haven't any hard numbers on contractors unaccounted for," he said.

Civilians are widely employed by the U.S. military in Iraq, as truck drivers and security guards among other

[Happy2BMe]

What will Jimmie Carter have to say about this one?

[Happy2BMe]

American is taken away

THREAT TO KILL US HOSTAGE

Iraqi militants have threatened to kill an American hostage unless US troops pull out of Fallujah, according to an Arab TV network. 

The man - who gave his name as Thomas Hamill - was taken hostage by masked Iraqi gunmen near Baghdad.

"Up to now your prisoner is being dealt with in the tolerant manner specified by Islamic law," a voice on a tape shown on the Al Jazeera network said.

"Our one request is to break the siege of the city of the mosques (Fallujah) during the 12 hours from six o'clock on Saturday evening.

"If not he will be dealt with worse that those who were killed and burned in Fallujah."

The man was initially filmed by an Australian TV crew - explaining that he had been taken prisoner after his convoy was attacked.

Wearing jeans and a black shirt, he was shown sitting in the back of a car.

Next to him was a hooded gunman who was holding an automatic-rifle on his lap.

The hostage told reporters his name was Thomas Hamill before the car sped away.

An Iraqi man in the front passenger seat, who was masked by a traditional headress, leant out of the window and put his thumb up as the car drove off.

The car drove past a burning truck as it left the scene.

This is the latest in a spate of kidnappings of foreigners in Iraq during the recent upsurge in violence.

[international american]

I don't dare print what I think of Carter:)

[Happy2BMe]

IRAQIS SEIZE 30 HOSTAGES

An Arabic television channel has broadcast a tape from an Iraqi group which is threatening to kill 30 foreign hostages.

The group has threatened to cut off the heads of their prisoners unless US forces lift a blockade of the town of Fallujah.

"We are calling for the withdrawal of American and Coalition forces.

"We have Japanese, Bulgarian, Israeli, American, Spanish and Korean hostages.

"Their numbers are 30," said a masked man holding a Kalashnikov rifle.

Violence has escalated throughout Iraq, with street fighting in northwest Baghdad and an attack on a fuel convoy west of the city.

Two American soldiers and a number of civilians are missing following the attack by militants.

The US Army said it had killed 12 rebels in northern Iraq, destroying their truck with a missile after the guerrillas opened fire.

US forces also killed three guerrillas after clashes broke out at a demonstration in front of Mosul city hall.

	US soldiers near Fallujah

There are fears of further unrest as more than a million Shia Muslims gather in the city of Karbala to mark the holy day of Arbain.

But there is a ceasefire in the nearby Sunni stronghold of Fallujah where US forces are holding peace talks with local leaders.

US Secretary of State Colin Powell promised to defeat the insurgents, although he admitted the past week had been "tough" for Coalition forces.

The other key developments in Iraq:

:: Fears grow for Briton Gary Teeley who is believed to have been kidnapped in Nasiriyah last Monday.

:: Two German security officials vanish while travelling to the German embassy in Baghdad from Jordan.

:: The director of the Iraqi Red Crescent in the northern city of Arbil and his wife are murdered.

:: Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi makes a surprise Easter visit to Italian troops based in the southern Iraq city of Nassiriya.

:: US Vice President Dick Cheney arrives in Tokyo where the government has pledged to keep its troops in Iraq despite the kidapping of three Japanese citizens.

Last Updated: 18:19 UK, Saturday April 10, 2004

[Happy2BMe]

Prayer chain ping for Thomas Hamill.

[international american]

Prayers sent

[Travis McGee]

Let's pull back 5KM like they demand.

[pickemuphere]

What will Jimmie Carter have to say about this one?

Who cares? The question is what Bush will have to say about this one. I hope the US request for a ceasefire in Fallujah is not tied to these particular demands.

[Fitzcarraldo]

They burned four Americans, so they probably will make good on these threats also.

It's time to show them who is boss.

[Feiny]

These sub humans need extermination. Our guys are just the ones to do it.

[Eagle Eye]

You remember that problem I had that we had discussed that cause you great concern?

Got it fixed.

[Eurotwit]

Hey Travis..

Your're probably a bit older than me. Didn't this kidnapping thing really take off in Lebanon? How did it play out then?

[Travis McGee]

Glad to hear it. Stay safe!

[ScaniaBoy]

This was shown on Swedish TV also.

The man showed a lot of spunk. He refused to say anything more than the fact that his convoy had attacked and his name.

One of the hostage-takers did not have scarf around his head, and so his face was pixelized by the TV company (b-st-rds!).

ScaniaBoy

[Dubya]

The question is what Bush will have to say about this one

It will be interesting.

[Travis McGee]

The Russian method worked best. When one of their diplomats was kidnapped, several family members of the gang thought to be the kidnappers were kidnapped by the Russians. They were sent to the kidnappers in pieces, or so the story goes, and no more Russians were kidnapped. But Lebanon is not a good example, because we are now in open war and will press on. If the US State Dept screws this up...

[Donna Lee Nardo]

Prayers sent for Mr. Hamill and all the other hostages and soldiers...

[Happy2BMe]

" But Lebanon is not a good example, because we are now in open war A RAGING HOLY WAR and will press on.

[hershey]

Carter should offer to change places with the Iraqi hostages. That would take care of things nicely.

[international american]

I was thinking the same thing....but YOU posted it....ROTF!!