The Arabic television station, Al-Jazeera, has reported that a militant group in Iraq has kidnapped ten people, including two Indonesian women who work for an electronics firm.
The station broadcast a videotape from a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq. The tape shows three men held captive.
Al-Jazeera said that apart from the Indonesian women, the other hostages were six Iraqis and two Lebanese nationals, and that the group made no demands.
Earlier, Britain's Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, said there would be no negotiation with the group holding Kenneth Bigley hostage in Iraq.
The clarification came after the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said his government would respond immediately if Mr Bigley's kidnappers made contact.
Mr Blair made his comments last night after a new video was broadcast on Al-Jazeera showing 62-year-old Mr Bigley chained and in a cage.
SF leader appeals for Bigley release
Meanwhile, the Sinn Féin President, Gerry Adams, has appealed to Mr Bigey’s captors for his release.
In an interview with the Arabic TV channel Al-Jazeera, Mr Adams said that he was approached by campaigners seeking the release of Ken Bigley. He said that the majority of Irish people were against the invasion of Iraq.
Mr Adams said that he believed that the cause of those who held Mr Bigley could be better advanced if they were magnanimous and generous and released him.
