Arab television shows man described as Iraqi-American hostage

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates -- A blindfolded man described as an Iraqi-American being held hostage in Iraq was shown pleading for help on an Arab television station Thursday.

The man, speaking in English, identified himself as Aban Elias and said he was from Denver and worked with the Pentagon as a civilian engineer. He was wearing a black-and-white kaffiyeh, or headdress, over his eyes.

Elias' brother, Kazwan Elias, told The Associated Press in Denver that his 42-year-old brother has been in Iraq for about a year running a gravel operation to help rebuild roads. He said their mother last heard from his brother on Sunday -- a day before he allegedly was kidnapped.

"He was just trying to do something to help rebuild some roads and get some work done," Kazwan Elias said. "He wanted to help his country."

Kazwan Elias said the gravel operation is about 20 miles from Fallujah, where U.S. troops have met fierce resistance. He did not believe his brother, whom he said is a naturalized American citizen, had been working for the military.

"This is terrible news. I just don't understand what's going on," he said.

Aban Elias appealed to Islamic agencies to win his release.

"I was kidnapped and I call upon Muslim organizations to interfere to release me," Aban Elias said.

Aban Elias did not identify his kidnappers in the 20-second segment that aired.

Al-Arabiya television said it received the tape Thursday in Dubai with a statement from a previously unknown group calling itself "The Islamic Rage Brigade." It did not say how the tape was received.

The group said Aban Elias was kidnapped Monday. It made no demands for his release.

An editor at the Emirates-based station said the entire tape was 30-40 seconds long. The editor said on condition of anonymity that the tape included a picture of his U.S. passport showing Iraq as his place of birth, but that segment was not aired.