Times of Oman, Oman
Sept 11 2005

Iraq group threatens to kill Lebanese hostage

DUBAI — A previously unheard of group in Iraq threatened to kill a
Lebanese hostage it accused of working with a liquor distribution
firm that “deals with the occupiers,” according to a video posted on
the Internet Sunday.

“The Group for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice” said
it had “captured an importer of food and liquor in Baghdad who works
for a company that deals directly with the crusader occupiers of
Iraq.”

It demanded the company’s “withdrawal from Iraq as soon as possible
in order to free the Lebanese hostage — otherwise woe on him and
you.”

The hostage, who speaking in Arabic gave the Armenian name of Garabet
Jean Chekerjian, said he held dual Lebanese and Cypriot nationality.
He was shown in the footage sitting on the floor with his hands and
feet tied.

A hooded gunman pointed an automatic weapon at his head. The captive
exhorted Lebanese President Emile Lahoud and the Lebanese embassy in
Baghdad to put pressure on his employers to pull out of Iraq.

“I hold dual Lebanese and Cypriot nationality and I work with the
branches of the ‘Jetco Trading’ (phonetic) company in Lebanon, Cyprus
and Iraq. The company supplies foodstuffs and alcoholic beverages to
the occupation forces and the Iraqi army,” he said.

“I urge the company to leave Iraq and I ask the Lebanese embassy to
put pressure on the company and its owner to sever links with the
occupation forces and the Iraqi army.”

Addressing unspecified people he named as “Gebran, Avo and Rita,” as
well as Lahoud, the captive called on all Lebanese companies to quit
Iraq, which he said was occupied “as Lebanon had been 15 years ago.”

Dozens of foreigners have been kidnapped by anti-US insurgents in
Iraq and some have been executed by their captors. About 30 Lebanese
working for private companies in Iraq have been kidnapped and later
freed, most of them in exchange for a ransom. But in September 2004,
one Lebanese national was killed by his captors and three others died
during an attempted kidnap.