Related: France says to examine video on French hostage in Iraq

A video, aired on the satellite Arab news channel, shows the French engineer, identified as Bernard Planche, is sitting on a a chair with two armed men on either side of him. (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

    ABU DHABI, Dec. 28 (Xinhuanet) -- The Iraqi kidnappers who claimed to have taken a French engineer hostage threatened to kill him unless France "ends its illegitimate presence in Iraq" in a video broadcast Wednesday by the Dubai-based Al-Arabiya television.

    The kidnappers called themselves the Battalion of the Look-out for Iraq.

    In the video, two masked gunmen forced a man in his 50s on knees to read a text in English. The channel then translated his phrases into Arab.

    "My name is Bernard. I'm 52 years old. I am French, from Lyons.I have worked in the humanitarian sphere as an hydraulic engineer for two years," said the man, hands apparently bound behind his back.

    "I'm sorry for the problems I have caused for those who tried to help me. Thanks to all those who want to help me. I thank my family and offer them my apologies for the problems I have caused them," he said.

The kidnapped French engineer, identified as Bernard Planche (Xinhua/Reuters photo)

    The hostage, identified as Bernard Planche by France, was believed to have been seized from his home near Baghdad on Dec. 5.

    He worked as a mechanical engineer specialized in water distribution systems for a non-governmental group in Iraq.

    "We demand the immediate release of Mr. Planche as nothing can justify his being taken hostage in Iraq," said a spokeswoman of the French Foreign Ministry.

    "France will do everything possible to obtain the release of the hostage," she said, adding that the "highest degree of discretion" was needed.

    France staunchly opposed the invasion of Iraq led by the United States in 2003. It has taken part in the security and civil reconstruction of the country since the war ended.

    Three French journalists have been taken hostage in Iraq since August 2004 but were released after months of captivity. Enditem