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Saturday, Aug 07, 2004

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Hostage issue: Kuwaiti firm official meets Al-Dulaimi

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, AUG. 6. The much-awaited face-to-face meeting between a representative of the Kuwaiti transport company, whose seven employees are being held hostage in Iraq, and the abductors' negotiator, Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi, materialised today. This marks the culmination of a process of protracted negotiations initiated about two weeks ago. Three of the captives are Indians.

"Yes, the meeting did take place today," Rana Abu Zaineh, the spokesperson of the Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company (KGL) told The Hindu over telephone. She gave no further details, but reiterated that the talks were being "wrapped up," so that the hostage crisis could be brought to an end.

"In a very short time, we will hear the good news," she said. Ms. Rana declined to comment when asked whether the company, as in the last two days, had continued to remain in telephonic contact today with Mr. Al-Dulaimi. The KGL representative was slated to meet Mr. Al Dulaimi today in order to "finish the matter," Ms. Rana said.

Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that though the hostage drama had undergone many twists and turns, there was, once again, a distinct possibility that the hostages would be freed at the earliest.

'Homework done'

Sources said that the deal then had floundered over the question of "compensation" for the families of the people of Fallujah who had suffered due to the American bombardment of the city. But prior to today's meeting, sufficient homework had been done to ensure that talks do not derail, yet again.

Indicating that the "compensation" package had been revised, the spokesperson of KGL, had, on August 2 announced over Al-Araybia television that the company was willing to accept "all demands" of the kidnappers. The next day a direct communication with Mr. Al-Dulaimi that had been disrupted on Sunday night was restored. Mr. Al-Dulaimi has apparently also accepted KGL's demands that he would not walk out of the future negotiations.

Having completed all preparations, KGL's representative headed for Iraq to conclude the deal. "After the breakdown of talks last Sunday, another cycle of negotiations has been completed today," the sources said.

Despite optimism, the sources cautioned that it was necessary to keep the fingers crossed.

Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the Minister of State for External Affairs, E. Ahamed, cancelled his four-nation tour of Singapore, Malaysia, Samoa and Brunei in order to attend to the hostage crisis.

UNI reports from New Delhi:

Mr. Al-Dulaimi has urged Amitabh Bachchan and other Bollywood actors to appeal to the kidnappers of the three Indians for their release.

"... if Amitabh Bachchan and Dharmendra go on TV and request not only me but the kidnappers and other Iraqis to resolve the crisis, then they (hostages) could be released," he said in an interview to the Outlook magazine.

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