NAIROBI, July 24 (Xinhuanet) -- The Kenyan government said on Saturday it was surprised by additional conditions imposed by Iraqi militants for the release of seven hostages, including three Kenyans, who face beheading in 48 hours.

    Kenyan government spokesman Alfred Mutua told Xinhua by telephone that "we are still hoping the abductors will release our nationals. We are in constant communication with them but as a government, we cannot meet these new demands because we were not part of the attacks in Fallujah and we are not holding any Iraqi prisoner."

    Kenya confirmed on Thursday that three of its nationals, together with others from India and Egypt, had been kidnapped in Iraq by a group that is calling itself The Holders of the Black Banners.

    It is reported that one of the demands of the militant group isthat the trucking company, Kuwaiti and Gulf Link Transport, should withdraw from Iraq and close its offices there.

    If it failed to do so, a hostage would be killed every 72 hoursstarting on Saturday, the group warned.

    The Kenyan government on Friday expressed optimism that hostages would be released after Kuwaiti employer's willingness tomeet the kidnappers' demands.

    However, the group late Friday issued a new demand of "payment of damages to families of victims of Fallujah and the release of Iraqi detainees from American and Kuwaiti prisons."

    Mutua pleaded again with the abductors to release the three Kenyan hostages, saying that "we are in contact with the owner of the company and he has assured us he is doing all he can. We are still waiting and hoping." Enditem