Appeal for hostages' lives

2005-12-23 19:30

London - The families of four foreign peace activists kidnapped in Iraq issued an appeal for their release on Friday, which will be translated into Arabic and published in Iraqi newspapers, said the foreign office.

There is still no news on the fate of British grandfather Norman Kember, American Tom Fox and Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden who were taken hostage in Baghdad on November 26.

Their captors, the Brigades of the Swords of Righteousness, had threatened to kill them unless all prisoners held in Iraqi and coalition prisons in the country are released.

Time for a fresh start

In the appeal, the families said: "We appeal to you to help us ensure the safe return of our relatives."

They noted that almost a month had passed since their loved ones vanished.

"In this time, Iraq has held elections for a constitutionally-elected government," they said, referring to a landmark poll on December 15.

"This is a new start for Iraq and Iraqis to take control of their own destiny. It is a time for new starts," the families said.

"Many clerics and religious figures from the Arab and Muslim world have spoken over the past weeks of the good work they were doing in Iraq and that their organisations have done in Palestine, and they have called for their release."

The appeal will be published in Arabic in Iraqi newspapers over the next two to three days. It will also be broadcast on Iraqi radio on December 26.

- AFP