Nepal hostages say US ‘lies’ brought them to Iraq

DUBAI: Twelve Nepalese held hostage in Iraq were shown on video footage on an Islamist website Saturday, with one of them reading a statement saying they had been misled into working there by “American lies”.

“We come here to Iraq on the basis of an agreement between our company, Nepalese agency, and the American (army), with the help of a Jordanian company... to help with American force,” said one of the hostages, seated amongst the 11 other captives. “The salary is ... 2,500 dollars they give us on guarantee, and then they said for us that the situation is not dangerous in Iraq but we see the situation” is dangerous, added the hostage, reading a statement in broken English that was difficult to comprehend. “We are arrested by unknown group and this is on evidence the situation is not under American” security or control in Iraq, said the hostage, who had a US flag pinned to his chest, covering the front of his shirt.

“So we ask anyone who wants to come to Iraq not to be cheated by these high salary because they are false and America is lying,” he added, fumbling over the words. As he spoke, the other hostages held up what appeared to be their passports. Some were seated alongside the speaker on the floor while others stood behind, all of them against a black backdrop which read: “Ansar al-Sunna”. afp

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