On the issue of hostages in Iraq

A spokesman for the American embassy in Baghdad spoke of the kidnapping of one American contractor on Monday. A military report expected earlier on Monday the kidnapping of one American but the embassy did not confirm the matter.

Meantime, Pakistan continues intensive efforts to release one of its employees who was kidnapped in Baghdad last Saturday. An official in the Pakistani government said that the kidnappers of Malik Muhammad Jawad asked for a ransom to release him.

In Romania, the spokeswoman for the Romanian presidency said that the three Romanian journalists who are held in Iraq since March 28th "are still alive."