Bangkok: The employer of three Indians held hostage in Iraq has established contact Sheikh Dulaimi, who is assisting in the resolution of the crisis and is willing to take all necessary steps to facilitate the safe and early release of the captives, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said in Bangkok today (July 30, 2004).

The Kuwait Gulf Link (KGL) transport company has confirmed that it has established contact with Dulaimi, who is assisting in the resolution of the hostage drama. A meeting between Dulaimi and a company representative is likely later today, he told reporters.

The company has stated it is willing to take whatever steps are necessary to facilitate the safe and early release of the hostages, he added.

Dulaimi has made a statement to Al Arabiya TV this morning, Singh said adding that Dulaimi had said that the Indian and Egyptian embassies are making efforts to seek the release of the hostages.

He made an appeal to the hostage-takers that they should not carry out their threat to execute one of the hostages this evening and requested them to extend the deadline so as to give an opportunity for further negotiations, Singh added.

Dulaimi's statement follows the issue of an appeal by the Indian Embassy in Baghdad yesterday, which was communicated to him, Singh said.

The Minister said the Government was closely monitoring the situation and all efforts were continuing to resolve the crisis.

"We are in contact with the family members of the hostages to apprise them of the latest developments and to reassure them of the Government's commitment to seek the safe and early return of their loved ones," he added.

Asked if the Government had learnt any lesson from the Khandahar hijacking of 1999, Singh said the two situations are not the same. "It's tragic and grave situation," he said.