New Delhi: Government has set up a crisis management group headed by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahmed to deal with the hostage crisis in Iraq even as it said today (July 23, 2004) that the Kuwaiti transport company has assured it will "do everything necessary" to ensure the release of hostages, including three Indians.

A control room has also been set up in the Ministry to monitor the developments, Ahmed told reporters in New Delhi.

The Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company (KGL) "has assured our Embassy in Kuwait that they are willing to do everything necessary to ensure the safety and release of the hostages. We have been given to understand that hostages are unharmed and safe," he said.

The three Indians -- Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh -- working as truck drivers with the company are being held hostage along with three Kenyans and one Egyptian by an Iraqi group "The Holders of the Black Banners" which is demanding withdrawal of all citizens of these countries from Iraq and stoppage of work by the transport company. It has threatened to behead a hostage every 72 hours.

Asked whether the company has agreed to stop operations, the Minister said the company "will to do whatever possible" for the release of hostages.

Observing that the demands of the kidnappers bear no relevance to India's well-known and principled position, he said that it had been made clear that India would not send its troops to Iraq.