Iraq kidnappers release video of American, Austrian hostages

BAGHDAD: Kidnappers have released a video of five Western private security contractors -- four Americans and an Austrian -- who were kidnapped in southern Iraq almost seven weeks ago.   

The tape, viewable on the website of the Austrian network ORF, shows the men in apparently good health. One of them says they will not see freedom until all prisoners held by US and British forces in Iraq are released.   

On November 16, the group was escorting a convoy in Safwan, near the city of Basra in southern Iraq, on behalf of Kuwaiti-based Crescent Security when it was captured by kidnappers wearing police uniforms.   

The short tape begins with a text claiming responsibility for the kidnapping on behalf of the "Islamic National Resistance in Iraq, Al Forkhan Brigades", and scenes are time stamped December 21 or December 22.   

Four of the five are shown, one after the other, sitting cross-legged in front of a black sheet and speaking directly to camera.   

The first, a middle-aged man dressed in a grey tracksuit, identifies himself as John R. Young.   

"I'm 44 years old. I'm from Kansas City, Missouri. The date is 21 December, 2006. I'm well, my friends are well, we've been treated well," he says.   

Jon Cote of Buffalo, New York, warns: "I can't be released until the prisoners from the American jails and the British jails are released."   

The next, a younger man, says: "I'm Bert Nussbaumer amd I'm an Austrian citizen working in the private security business for Crescent Security."   

The Austrian foreign ministry had already confirmed that 25-year-old Nussbaumer has been reported kidnapped.   

A tall, thin American with a short haircut, who introduces himself as 23-year-old Josh Munz of California, describes himself as a former US Marine.   

"I joined the Marine Corps in 2001, and I got out in 2005. After I got out of the Marine Corps, I went to work in the construction business, building swimming pools," he says.   

"After that, in July of 2006, I started working for Crescent Security out of Kuwait, and I don't know how long I've been here doing this, but today is December 21, 2006."   

The last captive, a middle-aged American, was filmed on December 22 and is shown only from the waist up against a floral background.   

"Hello, I'm Paul Johnson Reuben," he says.

"I just wanted to let my family know that I'm doing well."   

US-led coalition forces in Iraq have said that they are investigating several leads but have not found out where the captives are being held nor identified the group that took them.   

Several Islamist and nationalist resistance groups operate in Iraq, along with illegal political militias, corrupt security force units and criminal gangs who kidnap hostages for ransom.