Arab broadcaster Al-Jazeera has aired video from an insurgent group in Iraq that purportedly shows four Western aid workers who were kidnapped Saturday in Baghdad.
The video from the so-called Swords of Righteousness Brigade showed four Western-looking men and one British passport. The previously unknown group claims that the four hostages are spies.
Aid group Christian Peacemaker Teams confirmed earlier Tuesday that four of its employees had been kidnapped. News organizations have reported they are a Briton, an American and two Canadians.
Meanwhile, Germany has called for the release of a kidnapped national, archaeologist Susanne Osthoff, and her driver who disappeared Friday.
In other developments, Iranian officials say kidnappers have released six Iranian Shi'ite pilgrims abducted Monday near Balad. Earlier, two Iranian women from the group and their female Iraqi guide were freed.
And in Fallujah, witnesses said a top Sunni Arab cleric was shot dead as he left a mosque in the western city.