New Delhi: Ram Murthi, father of Antaryami, one of the three hostages held in Iraq, today (July 24, 2004) met President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and requested them to take steps to ensure their early release from the abductors.

"The President assured us that efforts are on to bring back the three Indians held hostage in Iraq," he said.

The Prime Minister also assured him that the Government would do its best to secure the release of the hostages, a PMO (Prime Minister's Office) official said.

Murthi met External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, who assured him that the crisis would be resolved peacefully as the Government was making all efforts to secure their safe release.

"We are working behind the scenes and we are hopeful that the crisis would be resolved peacefully," he told reporters in Delhi after meeting Antaryami's father.