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No word on status of negotiations

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, AUG. 5. There was no word today on the status of negotiations between the Kuwaiti transport company, whose seven employees including three Indians have been taken hostage, and an Iraqi tribal leader who is mediating to end the crisis.

The spokesperson of the Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company (KGL), Rana Abu Zaneih, told The Hindu over telephone that the company was today in touch with the Iraqi negotiator, Sheikh Hisham Al Dulaimi, on an "hourly basis." She was, however, non-committal about whether a representative of the KGL had reached Iraq to personally meet Mr. Al Dulaimi.

Ms. Rana had said on Wednesday that an employee of the company was heading for Iraq to "finish the matter." Last night, the Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed, had said in a statement that a face-to-face meeting between Mr. Al Dulaimi and a KGL representative was expected today.

Diplomatic sources indicated that with Thursday and Friday being observed as weekend in the Arab world, the pace of negotiations could slow down temporarily. The Black Banners Brigade of the Islamic Secret Army had carried out the kidnapping on July 21. Apart from the three Indians, the captives include three Kenyans and an Egyptian.

Ms. Rana said that a special envoy from Kenya had arrived in Kuwait today to facilitate negotiations. She said that the company was in "constant touch" with the Indian embassy in Kuwait. The Kuwaiti Foreign Minister was also being kept regularly updated.

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