American hostage in Iraq appeals for release; Chinese released

An American hostage appeared in a video tape rubbing his hands and appealed his kidnappers to keep him alive with a black banner behind his back.

Meantime, the Chinese news agency XNIHUA said that the 8 Chinese hostages who were released by gunmen in Iraq by the beginning of the week left Baghdad on Tuesday back home to Peking accompanied by officials at the Chinese foreign ministry.