Al Jazeera - August 17, 2004
http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/78E27879-1105-4978-B098-FCD2580CBD61.htm
Turkey firm hopes pullout means release
By Firas Al-Atraqchi
Turkish services company Bilintur, which has an employee held captive
in Iraq, has confirmed in a statement their complete withdrawal of
all staff and services from the country.
The statement - in English, Arabic, and Kurdish - affirms that "in
trying to secure the safety of our employee Ayat Allah Gezman, whom we
believe to have been kidnapped, and in accordance with a decision
previously made, we are declaring that we pulled all our staff from
Iraq as of 15 August".
According to Zafer Ergun, Bilintur's overseas coordinator, a purported
Iraqi group has threatened to execute Gezman by Wednesday morning.
He explained the services company withdrew its 130-strong staff from
Iraq, a move he fears the captors may not yet be aware of.
"We pulled everyone out - we have no one in Iraq now - as of 15
August, but we could not make a statement at the time. I stress
we have no more staff in Iraq, but we think the Iraqi group has not
heard of our pullout," Ergun told Aljazeera.net in an exclusive
telephone interview on Tuesday evening.
The 23-year-old Turkish national worked as a receptionist for a
laundary services operation at one of the US military bases near
Baghdad, Ergun said.
"Two of our staff were taken on 27 June - one was [executed] on 1
August and we have just received word that Ayat Allah will be killed
within 24 hours, by tomorrow morning."
The identity of the group remains unconfirmed.
"No result"
Ergun said Bilintur had no idea where Gezman was being held nor how to
get in touch with his captors.
"They have been calling directly to the family home and speaking to
Ayat Allah's brother who is then relaying the information and their
demands to us."
When asked whether the Turkish government was working to ensure
Gezman's release, Ergun said all efforts had produced no result.
"The Turkish government is working in liaison with the Iraqi
government but neither of them have been able to do anything - no
results," he said.
Ergun explained that he is reaching out to the media to get a message
through to the captors that their demands have been met.
"Ayat Allah's family...they are praying and awaiting good news from
Iraq," he said. -Aljazeera
http://tania.blythe-systems.com/pipermail/nytr/Week-of-Mon-20040816/005037.html
.
|
