Swaraj meets family members of kidnapped Indians in Iraq

The family members of those kidnapped in war-ravaged Iraq today met External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who assured them that the government was taking all steps for the safety and evacuation of their close ones and to directly contact them.

After over one-and-a-half-hour long meeting with the family members, Swaraj said she made them read the written message sent by the Indian Ambassador that they were in "regular touch with red crescent" which has developed contact with them and wrote to us that they are safe.

"I told them the details and also read out the written message of our ambassador. I told them that the details which I had given them earlier was based on telephonic conversation and today I am giving you the written communication in which it has been mentioned that they are in regular touch with red crescent and red crescent communicated with them and wrote that they are safe.

"I made them read the communication. They are satisfied with the written message of the ambassador. I have told them that once we are able to directly communicate with those who are captive then it would be confirmed," Swaraj said.

Noting that this was her second meeting the family members, the minister, who had earlier held a meeting of India's top envoys posted in Gulf countries to discuss Iraq situation, said the government was not able to contact the people there directly as the fight is going on road and cross firing is going on.

"We are not able to contact them directly as they are fighting on the road and cross firing is going on. We are not able to contact them and I am giving you the information which we are getting through red crescent.

"Even if we are able to contact them directly, we would not be able to bring them immediately and they themselves have said that they are in regular touch with the nurses but they are not able to take them out," she said.

Iraq is witnessing serious strife with Sunni militants, backed by al-Qaeda, capturing two key cities and marching towards Baghdad. Hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have been displaced in the fighting that broke out on June 10.

India has set up three camp offices to facilitate departure of 10,000 Indians from non-conflict zones.

Yesterday, the spokesperson in MEA had said that the 39 Indians who were kidnapped remained in "captivity" and "unharmed".