Philippines willing to negotiate with kidnappers in Iraq

[maddezmom]

MANILA (AFP) - The Philippine government is willing to negotiate with the kidnappers of a Filipino accountant being held captive in Iraq (news - web sites).


AFP/HO/File Photo



Foreign Under-Secretary Rafael Seguis said Filipino officials in Baghdad had been ordered by President Gloria Arroyo to "double our efforts to secure the release of Robert Tarongoy."


"And we are exhausting all possible channels to reach out to his abductors," Seguis said in a statement.


"I am asking his abductors now not to harm him, with the assurance that we are willing to resume talking to them or their intermediaries anytime."


Tarongoy, along with American Roy Hallun, two Iraqis and a Nepalese were abducted November 1 by armed men who barged into their office in Baghdad. The group was employed by a Saudi Arabian trading firm.

more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1530&ncid=731&e=1&u=/afp/20041129/wl_asia_afp/philippines_iraq_hostage