New Delhi: The hostage crisis in Iraq involving three Indians entered the second week today (Jul 28, 2004) with their Kuwaiti employer claiming that "serious" negotiations were underway to free them.

"We have been informed that the negotiations are continuing....it is a delicate and sensitive matter and patience in such situation is a key factor," Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed, who is heading the Crisis Management Group (CMG) to deal with the hostage drama, said.

The CMG met for nearly three hours to review the situation.

Ahamed said Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company, employer of Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdeo Singh, has conveyed that the hostages are "safe and are being looked after well. I hope that there will be a positive outcome in these negotiations".

Three Kenyans and one Egyptian are also being held along with the Indians by an obscure group "Black Banners" since last Wednesday (Jul 21, 2004).

Quoting an unnamed diplomat in Baghdad that, "The Kuwaiti company is in serious negotiations with the group who has held seven of its employees. There is hope for a breakthrough soon."

Meanwhile, Kuwait Government has detained some Indian nationals who were attempting to cross into Iraq for taking up jobs there in an unauthorised and illegal way despite India banning immigration clearance for the war-ravaged country.

Taking note of bids by Indian nationals to cross over to Iraq, the Indian Embassy in Kuwait in a press release said that it would be in the best interest of members of the Indian community not to make such attempts.