Dubai: A group calling itself "Black Flags" has taken three Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian hostage in Iraq and threatened to kill them if the Kuwaiti firm for which they work does not pull out of the country, in a video aired by Al-Arabiya news channel today (July 21, 2004).

"We announce that we have taken two Kenyans, three Indians and one Egyptian captive," said one of the gunmen who appeared on the video with a group of presumed hostages.

He said their company should withdraw from Iraq and closes its offices there, threatening to kill a hostage every 72 hours if it does not.

The Egyptian embassy in Baghdad confirmed that an Egyptian trucker, Mohammed Ali, had been kidnapped by a group called the "Black Flags".

He was seized barely 48 hours after another Egyptian truck driver had been released by another group.

"We announce that we have taken two Kenyans, three Indians and one Egyptian captive," said one of the hooded gunmen who appeared on the video with a group of presumed hostages.

He said their company should leave Iraq and close its offices there, threatening to behead a hostage every 72 hours if it does not.

The video showed an Egyptian who said his name was Mohammed Ali Sanad pleading with his company to leave.

"The states to which they (hostages) belong must announce the withdrawal of their employees and soldiers from Iraq within 72 hours starting 8:00 pm (22:30 IST) today," said the gunmen's spokesman.