CNN - 7 Chinese hostages taken in Iraq

CNN

[saquin]

CNN is reporting that 7 Chinese have been taken hostage in Fallujah. Unclear why they were in Fallujah.

[saquin]

It was a quick report just about a minute ago and I didn't hear all of it, but it sounded like the report came because they (the Chinese hostages) had been seen by other hostages who have since been released. They saw their Chinese passports. They are from Fuijan (sp) province.

[international american]

Food??

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Two minutes later, CNN will be reporting that the Chinese hostages have been released. China doesn't fart around.

[VadeRetro]

Maybe I'm stretching a point, but such bad behavior sounds like a cease-fire violation. Let the juggernaut resume!

[max_rpf]

The Iraqi Terrorist movement seems to me much like the Democrats... They can't seem to keep their people in line, and seem to make a lot of gut moves that are poorly coordinated and will eventually lead to their downfall.

[areafiftyone]

TOKYO, April 12 (Reuters) - Seven Chinese were kidnapped in central Iraq on Sunday, China's official Xinhua news agency said.

Xinhua quoted a Chinese diplomat in Baghdad as saying the group was "kidnapped by armed men in central Iraq".

The agency, monitored in Tokyo, gave no further details.

In the past week a spate of kidnappings has snared foreigners in Iraq, including three Japanese whose fate remains unclear.

[CindyDawg]

Why is China in Iraq? Who did these guys capture? Maybe we need to "free" these hostages and check this out.

[Betaille]

Despite being communist, China is relatively civilized these days. The islamofascists would not be wise to p-off the Chinese.

[BrooklynGOP]

I say we build a wall in the middle of Baghdad. Give the eastern part to China, and keep the western for ourselves. Then see which way civilians will be trying to flee to...

[saquin]

Just found an online story that mentions this:

"It appears that three Japanese hostages being held by insurgents in Iraq might be under threat of death again, although the Japanese Government is reported as saying they are safe.

The three are among a number of foreign nationals who have been kidnapped in Iraq in the last few days.

In contrast to the hope generated yesterday by a televised offer to release the Japanese, who include a teenager and a woman, the Agence France Presse news agency says it has had a call renewing the threat to kill the hostages within the next two days if Japan does not recall its troops from Iraq.

It has also been reported that seven Chinese citizens have been kidnapped by armed men in central Iraq, state media quoted a Chinese diplomat in Baghdad as saying.

The reported kidnappings came a day before US Vice-President Dick Cheney was due to arrive in Beijing straight from a visit to Tokyo overshadowed by the kidnapping of three Japanese civilians in Iraq.

There has been no news on the fate of a presumed American citizen, identified as Thomas Hamill, filmed by the ABC after he was captured by Iraqi insurgents on Friday and threatened with death if the US did not lift their siege of Fallujah.

Canada says it is negotiating to free one of its nationals, kidnapped last Thursday and Germany says two of its missing citizens are probably dead.

However, insurgents have released a British national and there are reports several abducted Asian truck drivers have been also released."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1085417.htm

[areafiftyone]

They were in Iraq because they have a construction contract:

Chinese firm wins Iraq reconstruction contract

[AdamSelene235]

This has to be the most multi-cultural spate of kidnappings in the history of the world.

Celebrate Diversity, Iraqi-style.

[saquin]

Oops, ya beat me to the online report. :-)

[Betaille]

"Why is China in Iraq?"
These were probably just businessmen or possibly tourists. The nationalities of the 8 that were released earlier(Pakistan, Turkey, etc.) also may have raised some eyebrows... but alot of people are involved in rebuilding iraq, so be careful not to paint with too broad a brush.

[areafiftyone]

:-) We're good!!

[areafiftyone]

Look at my post #12

[ovrtaxt]

Boy, it's a good thing they have our nuke technology, in case they want to end this war real quick.

[Betaille]

"This has to be the most multi-cultural spate of kidnappings in the history of the world."
LOL! Observation of the day right there.
Makes Kerry look pretty stupid for talking about unilateralism, doesn't it?

[OneTimeLurker]

I don't think there are many tourists running around Falluja. I think these Chinese were either press or Chinese operatives there to give info to the US or just as likely there to forment problems. The Chinese view us as their biggest enemy.