IRAQ: US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell urged allies in Iraq not to bow to guerrillas waging a campaign of hostage-taking and bombing as an attack wounded 14 foreign soldiers in Baghdad yesterday.
Insurgents bent on undermining Iraq's interim government fired several mortar rounds in the capital just after dawn, killing an Iraqi civilian and wounding 14 foreign soldiers.
Guerrillas have snatched a dozen foreigners in the past week and threatened to kill them, piling pressure on foreign forces and firms to leave Iraq.
The employer of two Jordanian drivers seized by kidnappers said yesterday he would stop work on a US base near the Syrian border, in a bid to win their release. But Mr Rami Oweis would not say whether the firm would halt its other operations in Iraq where it is believed to have secured several subcontracting deals with the US military.
Another guerrilla group said yesterday in a videotape sent to Al Arabiya television that it would cut off the road from Jordan to Baghdad and attack Jordanian trucks and businessmen unless Jordan stopped co-operating with US-led forces.
"Democracy is hard. Democracy is dangerous. And this is the time for us to be steadfast, not get weak in the knees," Mr Powell said on a visit to Hungary, which has sent 300 troops to Iraq.
"We must not allow insurgents, those who will use bombs and kidnapping and beheadings, to triumph."
Three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian were taken hostage in one group this month. Other hostages include two Pakistanis and the two Jordanian drivers.
The Australian government refused to apologise to Spain and the Philippines yesterday after blaming them for encouraging militants to issue threats by withdrawing their troops from Iraq.
Foreign Minister Mr Alexander Downer said both countries needed "to face up to the truth" that they were being exploited. Spain summoned Australia's ambassador in Madrid on Monday to protest at Mr Downer's comments. - (Reuters)