Insurgents in Iraq have released a videotape of eight Chinese men allegedly being held as hostages.

In the video, aired by al-Jazeera television Tuesday, the insurgents threaten to kill the hostages unless China "clarifies its role in Iraq" within 48 hours.

The abductors say the captured men worked for a Chinese company helping to build American facilities in Iraq.

Meanwhile, a Vatican spokesman says kidnappers have freed the archbishop Basile Georges Casmoussa of the Syrian Catholic Church in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. The spokesman said no ransom was paid for the release of the cleric, who was kidnapped Monday.