Nepalis given Iraq travel warning

The government says that for security reasons, Iraq is not safe

The Nepalese government has issued a fresh appeal to its citizens to stop going to Iraq for employment.

The appeal follows the abduction of a Nepali worker earlier this week.

In August, 12 Nepalese hostages were killed by their Iraqi captors. The murders shocked the nation, and led to violent demonstrations in Kathmandu.

The labour ministry has vowed to take tough action against recruitment agencies involved in sending Nepalese to Iraq through illegal channels.

Security reasons

Leading newspapers carried the government's appeal.

It reminds Nepalis that there is a national ban on workers going to the war-torn country for security reasons.

Nepal was rocked by the killing of 12 hostages in Iraq earlier this year

The BBC 's Sushil Sharma in Kathmandu says that, despite the ban, hundreds of Nepalese have reportedly been going to Iraq through nearby countries in the Middle East in their search for work.

Officials say investigations against recruitment agencies who may be breaking the rules are currently underway.

The government also announced the formation of a committee - headed by the minister of state for foreign affairs - to work towards securing the release of the latest Nepalese worker who has been abducted.

Radio Nepal said on Wednesday that the cabinet had held an emergency meeting over the kidnapped man, who it says has been identified as Yunus Kawari.

The Iraqi government says that he was one of a group of people working for a Saudi company who were kidnapped in the capital, Baghdad, on Monday.

The government was criticised for not doing enough to secure the release of the 12 Nepalis who were taken hostage in August.

They were killed by their Iraqi captors, leading to riots in Kathmandu in which two people died and several government and private buildings, including a mosque, were damaged.

Nepal says it is leaving "no stone unturned" in efforts to secure the release of Mr Kawari and has asked the US, Saudi Arabia, the Iraqi government and the Red Cross for help.