Hostages: Captors change demands

The captors of the three Indians in Iraq on Friday came up with a new deadline and a fresh set of demands.

The Qatar-based Al Jazeera television news channel on Friday aired a video tape in which the captors said they wanted the employer of the hostages, Kuwait and Gulf Link Transport Company, compensate the families of the Iraqis who died fighting American troops in Fallujah.

They also want Iraqi prisoners in US and Kuwaiti jails to be freed within the next 48 hours.

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The group calling itself 'The Black Banners' had abducted seven persons - three Indians, three Kenyans and one Egyptian - demanding that the three countries withdraw their personnel from Iraq.

None of the countries have troops in Iraq though their nationals are employed with companies operating there. Kenya has already asked its citizens to leave Iraq.