4 Americans kidnapped in southern Iraq

AFP/File - Sun Dec 24, 5:30 AM ET
Iraqi Red Cresent workers distribute humanitarian aid to the poor in Iraq, December 23.
The Iraqi Red Crescent has no news about 13 hostages still missing one week after dozens of staff were kidnapped at gunpoint from one of its Baghdad offices, the head of the agency has said.(AFP/File/Safin Hamed)

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The U.S. Embassy said Thursday it believes four American security contractors and an Austrian remain in captivity after their kidnapping in southern Iraq six weeks ago.

The men went missing Nov. 16 when a large convoy of trucks being escorted by their Crescent Security Group was hijacked on a highway near Safwan, a city on the border with Kuwait.

Suspected militiamen dressed in Iraqi police uniforms ambushed the convoy, taking 14 hostages, including the five security guards, and nine truck drivers who were later released.

"At this time, U.S. officials believe the American citizens are still being held by their captors," said Lou Fintor, a spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.

A video of the kidnapped Americans reportedly surfaced this week, showing them alive and in good condition. The footage, reported by McClatchy Newspapers, was believed to have been made about a month ago. If authentic, it would be the first proof that all five men survived the ambush.

LinkHere