Iraq: truck drivers - the most dangerous profession

Iraqi insurgents group calling themselves "The Holders of the Black Banners" has captured three Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian - all of them working as truck drivers. Militants threat to behead them one by one, if their governments and companies they work in, wouldn't leave Iraq.

In video footage given to Arabic satellite channel Al Arabiya, masked gunmen said they would behead the captives unless the Kuwaiti company they worked for pulled out of Iraq, reports Reuters.

Iraqi and U.S. officials had warned of a potential surge in threats and hostage-taking when the Philippines withdrew its 51-troop contingent from Iraq on Monday, giving in to the demands of militants holding a Filipino truck driver. The driver, Angelo dela Cruz, was released Tuesday, as Boston.com has informed.

A militant group "The Holders of the Black Banners", announced Wednesday it had taken two Kenyans, three Indians and an Egyptian hostage, and said it would behead a captive every 72 hours beginning Saturday night if their countries do not announce their intentions to withdraw troops and citizens from Iraq.

None of those countries is part of the 160,000-member U.S.-led coalition; however, interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi appealed last week to India and Egypt to send in troops.