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Wednesday, September 01, 2004
RP considers lifting labor ban on Iraq (5:45 p.m.)
MANILA -- The Philippine government is considering partially lifting a six-week-old ban on its civilians seeking work in Iraq, officials said Wednesday.
The announcment came a day after Islamic militants released a grisly video showing the killing of 12 apparently Nepalese men -- the largest single massacre of hostages in Iraq since the start of the US-led war.
The Philippines banned its nationals from flying to Iraq following the abduction in July of a Filipino truck driver.
He was freed unharmed when President Arroyo ordered a pullout of Manila's military contingent to satisfy the demands of the kidnappers, who had threatened to behead the driver.
Labor Secretary Patricia Santo Tomas said labor and foreign department officials have recommended the partial lifting of the ban amid appeals from the United States.
The officials proposed that Arroyo allow Filipinos to work in two US-run military camps in Baghdad, Camp Anaconda and Camp Victory, Santo Tomas said.
"The president would be the one to decide," Santo Tomas said. Arroyo flew to China for a three-day state visit early Wednesday.
The US ambassador to Manila, Francis Ricciardone, said Tuesday about 4,000 Filipinos who were already working in Iraq when the ban went into effect were playing a key role in rebuilding the war-torn country.
Washington hopes "others will be allowed to join them," he said, urging Manila to "take a careful look at relaxing that ban in very specific circumstances."
He cited the need for contractors hired by the US forces there to transport food and other supplies to Iraq. (AFP) |
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