New Delhi: Efforts to secure release of three Indians held hostage in Iraq remained suspended for the fourth day yesterday (Aug 12, 2004) with the abductors maintaining silence on the proposal of the captives' Kuwaiti employer company KGL (Kuwaiti Gulf Link) for deputing a new representative or hold direct talks.

KGL had on Sunday (Aug 8, 2004) asked the Iraqi militant group to "officially" depute a new representative after it pulled out of talks with Sheikh Hisham al-Dulaimi accusing him of "playing games".

The company said unrest and "curfew" in Iraqi city of Fallujah was hampering attempts of its "Iraqi friends" to establish contact with the militant group 'Islamic Secret Army - Holders of Black Banners'.

"Even today, we did not hear anything from them (abductors) on the proposal for nominating a representative or hold direct talks with the company," KGL spokesperson Rana Abu-Zaineh said over phone from Kuwait.

"Our people are unable to reach out to the kidnappers, either directly or through anybody else because of curfew in Fallujah," she said.

Tilak Raj, Antaryami and Sukhdeo Singh, plying trucks for KGL, were abducted along with three Kenyans and an Egyptian driver of the company in Iraq on July 21.