Skip to main content
Search
Services
WORLD

Video shows Jordanian hostage

Embassy driver was kidnapped Tuesday in Baghdad

YOUR E-MAIL ALERTS

Jordan
Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A group of militants released a video Saturday showing a Jordanian hostage and issuing demands for his release.

In the video, part of which aired on the Arabic TV network Al-Arabiya, the militants called on Jordan to sever ties with the new Iraqi government. They also demanded the release of an Iraqi woman who says she planned to take part in last month's terrorist attacks in Amman.

Al-Arabiya said the statement gave the Jordanian government three days to meet the demands.

In response, the Jordanian government said it does not accept "conditions" or "compromises," and called for the driver's immediate release.

The video shows Mahmoud Suleiman Saidat, a driver for Jordan's ambassador to Iraq. Iraqi authorities and the Jordanian government reported this week that he was kidnapped Tuesday by gunmen in southwestern Baghdad.

On the video, the man identifies himself as Saidat. A banner hanging in the background identifies the kidnappers as a group called the Hawk Brigades. He is seen surrounded by three armed men holding automatic weapons and a rocket-propelled grenade launcher.

Saidat reads a statement he was given, saying, "I ask the Jordanian government to withdraw its diplomatic mission from Iraq and not to deal with this illegitimate government."

He also reads the demand that Jordan release Sajida al-Rishawi, who said in a televised confession last month that she planned to take part in the string of terrorist attacks at Jordanian hotels on November 9 that killed at least 57 people.

She said her explosives failed to go off at the large wedding reception she was targeting, but her husband's explosives did go off there.

Naser Judeh, spokesman for the Jordanian government, told CNN it was the first time Jordan had heard of the Hawk Brigades. Jordan is doing its own investigation, he said.

Jordan said Amman is "asking the Iraqi government to take all measures needed and take immediate action to find a way to release the Jordanian driver."

He said the government also calls on the group to release the driver "with no conditions. We do not accept conditions nor compromises -- this is our historic position."

CNN's Caroline Faraj contributed to this report.

Story Tools
Subscribe to Time for $1.99 cover
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Top Stories
Get up-to-the minute news from CNN
CNN.com gives you the latest stories and video from the around the world, with in-depth coverage of U.S. news, politics, entertainment, health, crime, tech and more.
Search JobsMORE OPTIONS


 
Search
© 2007 Cable News Network.
A Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved.
Terms under which this service is provided to you.
Read our privacy guidelines. Contact us. Site Map.
Offsite Icon External sites open in new window; not endorsed by CNN.com
Pipeline Icon Pay service with live and archived video. Learn more
Radio News Icon Download audio news  |  RSS Feed Add RSS headlines