Iraq militants in talks with Jordan over hostage: TV

DUBAI (Reuters) – Iraqi militants are negotiating with the
Jordanian government about the fate of a hostage they
threatened to kill unless Amman freed a failed woman suicide
bomber, Al Arabiya television reported on Tuesday.

Al Arabiya said it had received a new video from the
little-known group, the Falcons Brigade, in which the militants
said they were holding talks with Jordan’s government about
embassy driver Mahmoud Saedat.

Jordanian government spokesman Nasser Joudeh confirmed
extensive efforts were underway to secure Saedat’s speedy
release, but declined to identify the groups contacted or say
whether there was any direct contact with the kidnappers.

“Contacts are on-going at all levels and there could be
parallel to this some unofficial contacts at different levels,
the details of which cannot be disclosed at this stage in order
to ensure his safety,” he told Reuters.

“The government is sparing no effort and leaving no stone
unturned with all the relevant authorities in Iraq in order to
ensure his release,” Joudeh added.

The video was not aired by Al Arabiya, which said the
militants had renewed their threat to kill Saedat and repeated
their demand for Jordan to pull its diplomats out of Iraq.

Saedat was kidnapped in Baghdad late last month and Al
Arabiya showed a video of him appealing to his government to
quit Iraq and free Sajida al-Rishawi, who said on Jordanian
television last month that she had tried to blow herself up
alongside her husband in hotel attacks in Amman.

Al Arabiya had said the group set a three-day deadline for
Rishawi’s release.

Jordan had said it would not give in to the kidnappers’
demands, but said it was sparing no effort to release Saedat.

The Amman suicide bombings in November killed more than 50
people. Al Qaeda in Iraq claimed responsibility for the
attacks.