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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3633781.stm
A US soldier missing since an attack last week on a US fuel convoy is being held hostage in Iraq, militants say.
Arabic television station al-Jazeera broadcast a video showing masked gunmen and a Caucasian man in army clothes.
Family friends confirmed it was Private Keith Matthew Maupin and said they were delighted he appeared to be well.
The claim that a soldier was in custody came as some foreign hostages were released in Iraq, while a further two civilians were reported kidnapped.
Three Czech journalists missing since Sunday were freed and declared: "We all are in good condition."
A Syrian-born Canadian man was also released, but a Dane and an American were reported to have been seized.
Captors' plans
The video sent to al-Jazeera showed a man dressed in camouflage fatigues, seated on the floor, surrounded by armed men.
Our family is very happy and prays for Matt's safety
Maupin family spokesman
One of the men, reading a statement, said their hostage was an American soldier.
"He is being treated according to the treatment of prisoners in the Islamic religion and he is in good health," the gunman said.
"We are keeping him to be exchanged with some of the prisoners captured by the occupation forces," he added.
Family relief
The man on the tape later identified himself as Keith Matthew Maupin.
"I am married and have a 10-month-old son," he said in an American accent. "I came to Iraq to liberate it. But I was not at all willing to come, because I wanted to stay with my child."
Standing behind the hostage was a group of armed men
Pentagon officials are now studying the footage.
Private Maupin, 20, is one of the soldiers listed as missing after a convoy was attacked near Baghdad on 9 April.
A spokesman for Private Maupin's family in Ohio said that it was definitely him in the video.
"Our family is very happy and prays for Matt's safety," family spokesman Carl Cottrell said. "On behalf of his mother... and the rest of his family, we'd like to say, 'Matt, we love you and we can't wait until we get to hug you again'."
Seven US civilian contractors have also been missing since the attack, one of whom is known to have been abducted.
Mood lifted
Fears have grown for the fate of foreign hostages since the killing of Italian Fabrizio Quattrocchi on Wednesday.
Fears for hostages grew with the killing of an Italian captive
The mood was lifted when three Japanese were released on Thursday, and then three Czechs on Friday.
But the hostage taking appears to be continuing.
The Danish government said it believed a businessman had been kidnapped outside Baghdad, possibly during a highway robbery.
"A Danish citizen is most probably being held," the foreign ministry in Copenhagen announced on Friday, adding that no group had contacted it.
According to Danish television, the missing Dane is in his 30s and was working on a sewerage project.
In the southern city of Basra, Iraqi police said an American businessman of Jordanian origin was abducted from his hotel overnight.
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Does anyone know what the masked men meant by: "He is being treated according to the treatment of prisoners in the Islamic religion and he is in good health." I hope this guy doesn't get killed. Include him in your prayers.
A US soldier missing since an attack last week on a US fuel convoy is being held hostage in Iraq, militants say.
Arabic television station al-Jazeera broadcast a video showing masked gunmen and a Caucasian man in army clothes.
Family friends confirmed it was Private Keith Matthew Maupin and said they were delighted he appeared to be well.
The claim that a soldier was in custody came as some foreign hostages were released in Iraq, while a further two civilians were reported kidnapped.
Three Czech journalists missing since Sunday were freed and declared: "We all are in good condition."
A Syrian-born Canadian man was also released, but a Dane and an American were reported to have been seized.
Captors' plans
The video sent to al-Jazeera showed a man dressed in camouflage fatigues, seated on the floor, surrounded by armed men.
Our family is very happy and prays for Matt's safety
Maupin family spokesman
One of the men, reading a statement, said their hostage was an American soldier.
"He is being treated according to the treatment of prisoners in the Islamic religion and he is in good health," the gunman said.
"We are keeping him to be exchanged with some of the prisoners captured by the occupation forces," he added.
Family relief
The man on the tape later identified himself as Keith Matthew Maupin.
"I am married and have a 10-month-old son," he said in an American accent. "I came to Iraq to liberate it. But I was not at all willing to come, because I wanted to stay with my child."
Standing behind the hostage was a group of armed men
Pentagon officials are now studying the footage.
Private Maupin, 20, is one of the soldiers listed as missing after a convoy was attacked near Baghdad on 9 April.
A spokesman for Private Maupin's family in Ohio said that it was definitely him in the video.
"Our family is very happy and prays for Matt's safety," family spokesman Carl Cottrell said. "On behalf of his mother... and the rest of his family, we'd like to say, 'Matt, we love you and we can't wait until we get to hug you again'."
Seven US civilian contractors have also been missing since the attack, one of whom is known to have been abducted.
Mood lifted
Fears have grown for the fate of foreign hostages since the killing of Italian Fabrizio Quattrocchi on Wednesday.
Fears for hostages grew with the killing of an Italian captive
The mood was lifted when three Japanese were released on Thursday, and then three Czechs on Friday.
But the hostage taking appears to be continuing.
The Danish government said it believed a businessman had been kidnapped outside Baghdad, possibly during a highway robbery.
"A Danish citizen is most probably being held," the foreign ministry in Copenhagen announced on Friday, adding that no group had contacted it.
According to Danish television, the missing Dane is in his 30s and was working on a sewerage project.
In the southern city of Basra, Iraqi police said an American businessman of Jordanian origin was abducted from his hotel overnight.
_______________________________________________
Does anyone know what the masked men meant by: "He is being treated according to the treatment of prisoners in the Islamic religion and he is in good health." I hope this guy doesn't get killed. Include him in your prayers.