July 21 (Bloomberg) -- A militant group in Iraq said it has taken six foreign truck drivers hostage and has threatened to behead them if their countries do not declare they are ready to withdraw their citizens from Iraq, the Associated Press said.

The hostages include two from Kenya, three from India and an Egyptian. A group calling itself ``the Holders of the Black Banners'' said in a statement given to the AP that it would kill one hostage every 72 hours. It also wants the company that the truckers work for to pull out of Iraq, AP said. AP didn't identify the company.

``We have warned all the countries, companies, businessmen and truck drivers that those who deal with American cowboy occupiers will be targeted by the fires of the Mujahedeen,'' the group said in the statement, according to AP. None of the hostages comes from a country participating in the 160,000-member U.S.-led multinational force in Iraq.

Yesterday a Filipino truck driver was released by his captors after the Philippine government gave in to the militants' demands and accelerated the withdrawal of its forces from Iraq. An Egyptian trucker was released Monday after his employer ceased its Iraqi operations.

(AP, 7-21)

To contact the reporter on this story: Beth O'Connell in London at boconnell@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 21, 2004 12:09 EDT