Libya Asks Iraqi Rebels to Free U.S. Hostage

Libyan leader Moammar Kadafi appealed Wednesday to kidnappers in Iraq to free American contractor Roy Hallums, Al Jazeera television reported.

Insurgents distributed a video Tuesday showing Hallums, who was abducted in November, pleading for help from Kadafi and other Arab leaders.

“As a response to the plea, we ask the Iraqi resistance in the name of Islam and Arabism to free him,” the satellite channel quoted Kadafi as saying.

In October, Kadafi appealed for the release of British hostage Kenneth Bigley, who was later beheaded by suspected Al Qaeda operatives.

Hallums is one of more than 100 foreigners to have been taken hostage in Iraq since the overthrow of President Saddam Hussein. About one-third have been killed.

In Washington, U.S. officials said Wednesday that at least three Americans were being held hostage in Iraq and that some other U.S. citizens listed as missing may also have been taken captive.

“There are three we know are being held hostage, and there’s a handful more who are unaccounted for, some of whom might be in a hostage situation,” State Department spokesman Richard Boucher told reporters.

A senior State Department official, who asked not to be named because the figures were not official, said two of the Americans unaccounted for had “probably” been kidnapped.

In some cases the Americans had been held hostage since before November, officials said, but provided no more details.