40 Indians untraceable in Iraq's Mosul

Forty Indian workers were untraceable in Mosul town of strife-torn Iraq even as the government decided on Wednesday to send former envoy to Iraq Suresh Reddy to strengthen the Indian Mission in Baghdad.

"There are 40 Indians in Mosul who we have not been able to contact," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Syed Akbaruddin said.

Asked about reports that they were abducted, he said, "We cannot confirm it. However, they are uncontactable." The Spokesperson said Reddy is being sent to Baghdad to strengthen the Indian Mission there which is trying to help the Indians in violence-affected areas.

He said there were no reports of any Indian being targeted or involved in any violent incident in Iraq.  "The violence there is not targeted at Indian nationals. We are just caught in the cross-fire. At this stage we have no reports, no confirmation of any Indian national being involved in any violent accident," the sokesperson said.