Talks on Iraq hostages stalled for third day

Formal negotiations to secure the release of three Indians held hostage in Iraq continued to be stalled for the third day on Wednesday with the abductors failing to depute a new representative for talks with the captives' Kuwaiti employer, Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) Transport Company.

KGL, which pulled out of talks on Sunday accusing the abductors' negotiator Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi of "playing games", has asked the Iraqi militant group to "officially" depute a new representative or hold direct negotiations.

"We are still waiting for a response from them (abductors). There is no word from them on our proposal," Kuwait and Gulf Link spokesperson Rana Abu-Zaineh told PTI over phone from Kuwait.

She, however, noted that "some old Iraqi friends", who intervened on the company's behalf on Tuesday, were in "contact" with the militant group.

Asked about the condition of the hostages "" Tilak Raj, Antaryami and Sukhdeo Singh "" she said the company had no latest information.

"Our priority is to see that the hostages are released safe and sound," the KGL spokesperson said, adding for this the talks had to resume.

She said the company would be ready to resume talks even with Dulaimi if he gets "authorisation" from the kidnappers "through a letter or a TV statement" for holding the negotiations on their behalf.