11 August 2003, 16:06

Videotape picturing Arjan Erkel, holding hostage in Dagestan, appeared in the Netherlands

Dutch authorities have got a videotape showing recent images of a Dutch doctor kidnapped on the south of Russia a year ago.

Arjan Erkel, 33, was kidnapped by three gunmen in Dagestan near the border with Chechnya on August 12, 2002, which borders Chechnya. He worked in the Caucasus as a head of the regional department of the organization "Doctors Without Borders".

Arjan Erkel looks healthy in the video; he speaks Russian and asks for ransom for his captors. The spokeswoman of "Doctors Without Borders" Marieke van Zalk confirmed the receipt of the videotape, but underlined all reports on its contents were "speculations".

"The videotape was delivered to the Dutch Embassy in Moscow seven weeks ago. It's not clear exactly where he is or who is holding him," she said rejecting further comments for the sake of the hostage's safety.

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects the comments for the same reasons.

Source: The Chechen Times Website

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