Kenya tells citizens to leave Iraq

Kenya today called on all of its citizens to leave Iraq immediately, and a government spokesman urged insurgents to release the three Kenyans they have taken hostage.

A militant group calling itself The Holders of the Black Banners announced yesterday it had taken the Kenyans, three Indians and an Egyptian hostage.

The group said it would behead a captive every 72 hours beginning on Saturday night if their countries do not announce their intentions to withdraw troops and citizens from Iraq.

“We assure them that Kenya has no intent of interfering with the lives of the Iraqi people, and that we are discouraging our citizens from participating in work that takes them to Iraq,” government spokesman Alfred Mutua said.