70 Haryana youths stranded in Iraq

Chandigarh, June 20 (IANS) Over 70 people from Haryana, mostly young men, are stranded in strife-torn Iraq, a government spokesman said Friday.

The Haryana government has given the list of the 70 on the basis of information made available by their families. Most of them were from Yamunanagar district.

Officials here said there was no information pointing out to any person from Haryana being taken hostage by Sunni insurgents in Iraq.

Over 40 Indian, mostly from Punjab, were taken hostage by the insurgents June 11.

The Punjab government has released a list of 78 people who are missing, taken hostage or stranded in Iraq. Most are construction or skilled workers.