More than 3,000 Iraqi POWs seen

? The international Red Cross said Friday it had seen more than 3,000 Iraqi prisoners of war but had yet to receive permission from Iraqi officials to visit the Americans they were holding.

The International Committee of the Red Cross said most Iraqi POWs were registered in southern Iraq. U.S. Central Command says coalition forces hold more than 4,000 Iraqi prisoners of war.

The Pentagon has listed seven American POWs and 16 as missing.

“We are very keen to visit the coalition prisoners,” Notari said. “We stand ready to do that. But it doesn’t depend on us. Negotiations are still under way. It’s not easy.”