Five still in captivity

Four American security contractors and one Austrian remain in captivity after their kidnapping in southern Iraq six weeks ago, the US Embassy said today.

The men went missing November 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.