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Iraqi gunmen display Turkish hostages

The Associated Press
6/8/2004, 10:45 a.m. ET

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) — Iraqi gunmen displayed seven Turkish citizens Tuesday, saying they had kidnapped the men because they worked for Americans.

Videotape obtained by Associated Press Television News showed three of the hostages surrounded by armed men wearing masks. Four other hostages were shown to reporters separately.

The tape showed three men crouching on the floor, holding passports opened to the photo page.

Six masked men were standing behind the hostages. One was holding a rocket-propelled grenade launcher and two were holding assault rifles.

The hostages were sitting against the backdrop of the old Iraqi flag, held by some of the kidnappers.

"We urge the Muslim Turkish people...to stand by the side of their Iraqi, Muslim brothers in their crisis by refusing to work with the occupation forces," said one of the masked men.

"We also ask the companies that deal with the occupation forces to cancel their contracts and withdraw its personnel from Iraq in order for the hostages to be released," the masked man said.

At the end of the statement he said "God is great" three times.