BRASILIA, Jan. 23 (Xinhuanet) -- A sister of the Brazilian engineer held hostage in Iraq called on Sunday on the militant kidnappers to show mercy to her brother, saying her brother was not an enemy of Iraq.

    "They know that Brazil did not interfere in the Iraqi war, that Brazil did not send troops, that Brazil was not favorable to the attack. The Brazilian people are by nature peaceful," Isabel Vasconcelos, a sister of the kidnapped engineer, told the GloboNews television.

    The Qatar-based al-Jazeera TV channel said Saturday that a militant group calling itself Al Mujahedeen Squadrons had abducteda Brazilian and showed a video of his identification card.

    Brazilian construction company Norberto Odebrecht confirmed that the company had lost contact with an employee named Joao JoseVasconcelos.

    A spokesman for Brazil's Foreign Ministry said the government has begun rescue efforts.

    Vasconcelos was the second Brazilian kidnapped in the violence-ravaged country. Enditem