Militants in Iraq are threatening to kill ten Iraqis they are holding hostage unless their US company leaves the country, according to a video tape aired by Arabic television channels today.
The tape, broadcast by Al Arabiya and Al Jazeera, was attributed to three Iraqi insurgent groups and showed blindfolded hostages sitting against a wall.
The channels said the men were working for a US security firm but did not give its name.
The tape included a statement from the masked gunmen, images of the hostages' belongings and a plea from one of them for Iraqis to stop cooperating with the US occupation forces and the US-backed Iraqi administration.
"The company supplies tanks which are used in fighting," the blindfolded hostage said. "I urge everyone not to work for the Americans or to help the government of (Iraqi interim prime minister) Iyad Allawi."
It was not clear when the men were kidnapped and the television stations did not say if the group had set a deadline to carry out its threat.
Insurgents have frequently attacked contractors from various nationalities working for US-led forces in Iraq.