India rules out talks on hostages

The hostages have been held for nearly a month now

The Indian government has ruled out direct talks with the kidnappers of three Indian truck drivers being held hostage in Iraq.

Junior Foreign Minister E Ahmed told parliament the government would not negotiate directly with, or pay any ransom to, the kidnappers.

But he said the government was urging the hostages' Kuwaiti employers to step up efforts to secure a release.

The men were seized nearly a month ago with three Kenyans and an Egyptian.

Mediator

Replying to an MP's question on Thursday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said his government was making all efforts - consistent with India's policies - to free the hostages.

"Efforts that need to be made are being made but I cannot say the hostages will be released tomorrow," Mr Singh said.

The leading opposition Bharatiya Janata Party said the government was not doing enough to secure the freedom of the hostages.

The kidnappers have threatened to kill the men if the Kuwaiti firm does not pull out of Iraq and if Kenya fails to remove all its civilian contractors who are working there.

The Kuwaiti employers and an Iraqi mediator who has been acting as a go-between with the kidnappers have been negotiating a release but the current status of these talks is not known.

The Indians - Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh - were seized by militants calling themselves the Black Banners brigade.

The Indian government has ordered its citizens not to go to Iraq.