A group of Philippine soldiers started pulling out from Iraq Friday. By this, Manila hopes to gain a release of a Filipino worker held hostage by Iraqis for more than week.
Foreign Secretary Delia Albert said Friday the head of her country's peacekeeping force in Iraq will be among those returning home.
"He is leaving Iraq today with 10 members of the Philippine humanitarian contingent. The rest of the members of the contingent will be out of Iraq shortly," she stated.
The decision has received wide support in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, the Saudi employer of an Egyptian hostage in Iraq said it has met the demands of kidnappers by pulling out of the country.
The abductors of Muhammad al-Gharabawi Thursday gave the Faisal al-Nahait Transport Company 48 hours to prove it had left Iraq, Al-Jazeera reported.
On Friday, in a statement forwarded to the TV channel, the Saudi firm said it no longer had vehicles in Iraq.
"All our vehicles were pulled out of Iraq on Wednesday, July 14, to ensure the safety of the hostage," the statement said.
The hostage-takers had sent a written statement to the network threatening to execute Muhammad al-Gharabawi if the company did not meet the deadline.
Thursday's statement from the abductors also declared anyone who collaborated with the U.S.-led occupation in Iraq "won't be treated kindly, for they are seen as traitors working with the infidel occupiers." (albawaba.com)
© 2004 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
