The Kuwaiti company whose seven employees, including three Indians, are held hostage in Iraq, has said it expected the captives to be freed "very soon" with the negotiations for securing their freedom was "in the final states" as the hostage crisis entered the 14th day.
"They are expected to be freed very soon. We are finalizing things. The negotiations are in the final stages of and good news can come any time," Rana Abu-Zaineh, spokeswoman for Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) transport company, said as talks between the abductor's negotiator Sheikh Hisham Al-Dulaimi and the KGL to free the hostages continued.
External Affairs Minister E Ahamed told reporters that "statements have been made by both the KGL company and Sheikhh Hisham al-Dulaimi (negotiating on behalf of the abductors) which indicate that negotiations are continuing and a successful and satisfactory outcome may be likely."
Reading out a brief statement after a marathon meeting of the Crisis Management Group, Ahamed said prominent religious leaders in Iraq have also called for the safe release of the hostages.