New Delhi/Dubai: Kidnappers of the three Indian hostages in Iraq tonight (July 30, 2004) extended by 24 hours the deadline to execute one of them bringing temporary relief to their anxious families as India decided to rush a senior official to Baghdad to assist in efforts to seek their early and safe release.

A statement issued by the kidnappers to AFP in Baghdad said the deadline has been extended till 15:00 hours (20:30 IST) tomorrow to give a "last chance to the company and the concerned countries to save their employee and their nationals."

Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport (KGL) firm, the employer of Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukh Deo, also said in a statement that the militants have delayed their deadline.

When contacted, Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed told PTI "we also heard about the extension of the deadline. But we have not got any authentic confirmation as yet. If it is true, we really appreciate the gesture and we also hope the kidnapped Indians will be released as early as possible."

The 8.30 P M deadline given by the captors for today passed off without any report of the militant group having carried out their threat as the negotiations to secure the release of the captives progressed.

Rana Abu Zaineh of KGL said the captors, the Black Banners Battalion which kidnapped the hostages on July 21, had informed them about lifting the deadline.

As today's deadline drew closer, the Crisis Management Group headed by Ahamed held a marathon meeting in Delhi.

Emerging from the five-hour meeting, he told reporters that a senior External Affairs Ministry official of the rank of Additional Secretary familiar with the region and its language was being deputed to the Indian Embassy in Baghdad to assist in efforts to seek the early and safe release of the hostages. "We will furnish details shortly," he said.