Iraq coalition promises no concessions to kidnappers' demands

A GROWING number of countries and foreign companies working in Iraq whose nationals or employees have been snatched and threatened with death are bowing to abductors' demands in a hostage crisis that refuses to subside.

On Wednesday, all 31 members of the US-led multinational coalition signed a declaration rejecting any negotiations with the kidnappers, who have carried out the threat of killing their hostages more than half-a-dozen times since April.

The declaration said: "We are united in our resolve to make no concessions to terrorists, nor to succumb to terrorist threats.