Iraq kidnap: 'Australia will not negotiate'

Australia’s prime minister said today that he will not negotiate with terrorists who reportedly kidnapped an Australian man seen in a video pleading for US-led coalition forces to leave Iraq.

The tape showed a man who identified himself as Douglas Wood, 63, an Australian who lives in California. He is shown seated between two people wearing masks and pointing automatic weapons at him.

A sign shown on the tape carried the name of a group claiming responsible for the kidnapping, Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq.

“Everybody knows the position of the Australian government in relation to hostage demands,” Howard told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio.

“We can’t have the foreign policy of this country dictated by terrorists.”