The Iraqi abductors who are holding three Indians hostage want an apology from India for calling them 'bandits who are interested in ransom', rediff.com has learnt.

According to sources in Baghdad, Minister of State of External Affairs E Ahmed and Joint Secretary (Gulf) in the Ministry of External Affairs R Dayakar spoke to prominent tribal leader Sheikh Saa'd Al Asadi, who has agreed to help India in negotiations.

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The three Indians -- Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh -- are among six people taken hostage by the Iraqi militant group Black Flags.

Rediff.com has also learnt that the MEA instructed Indian Ambassador to Iraq, B B Tyagi, to deliver a letter to the abductors as soon as possible.

Two letters, in Arabic, were hand delivered by Tyagi and First Secretary M C Pande to Sheikh Asadi to be handed over to the abductors. But it is not known whether the letters contained the 'apology' that the abductors were demanding.

Sheikh Hesham Al Dulaimi, who had announced himself as a negotiator, and one of the militants accepted both the letters. They later returned one the letters.

The militant who accepted the letters will reportedly consult his superiors and let Al Dulaimi know the outcome on Friday at 10am, Iraq time.