The eight Chinese nationals taken hostage in Iraq have now been named: Lin Qiang (39 years old), Wei Wu (19), Zhou Sunlin (18), Lin Bin (39), Lin Zhong (38), Chen Qin'ai (37), Zhou Sunqin (17) and Lin Xiong (34).
Chinese President Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, and other leaders are concerned about security of the eight Chinese hostages in Iraq, and ordered the Foreign Ministry and Chinese Embassy to Iraq to take effective measures to rescue the hostages, according to sources from the Foreign Ministry.
The Chinese Embassy in Baghdad had earlier confirmed that the eight had been kidnapped by militants, and pledged that the government would spare no effort to secure their release.
A video aired by Qatar-based Aljazeera TV showed eight hostages holding Chinese passports standing in a row, flanked by masked militants who read a statement, demanding that the Chinese government clarify its stance on Iraq.
Another part of the statement said they could free the hostages on condition that they "quit their work with the occupation forces."
In a handwritten note delivered with the tape, the insurgent group calling itself al-Numan Brigades threatened to "kill the eight within 48 hours" unless China met their demands.
Sources told Xinhua that the kidnapped Chinese, from the eastern province of Fujian, were construction workers who had been working on a project to rebuild an Iraqi plant in the southern city of Najaf.
They said the project, signed with Iraq's interim government, has nothing to do with US-led multinational forces.
Embassy diplomats said they were making all efforts to rescue the hostages, who went missing last week while traveling to Jordan.
All eight went to Iraq independently to look for work there, said Kong.
He added that they had rented an automobile to leave the country but were kidnapped on the way. "The Chinese people cherish their friendship with the people of Iraq and have always sympathized with and supported them."
All of the hostages are from Pingtan County, where many people, especially farmers from Zhonglou Village of Aodong Town and Lancheng Village of Liushui Town, go abroad for work.
They often use the services of China Futong International Economic Cooperation, a company registered by the provincial government, but it is unconfirmed as to whether they were involved in this instance.
(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency,January 19, 2005)
