Unclear who is holding Hassan

2004-10-19 21:45

Washington - The United States said on Tuesday it was concerned about the wellbeing of a kidnapped British-born aid worker in Iraq and is working with British and Iraqi authorities to secure her release.

The state department said Washington had few details of the abduction earlier on Tuesday in Baghdad of Margaret Hassan, who headed Iraq operations for Care, but emphasised it condemned "all hostage-taking".

"We're keeping in touch with the Iraqi authorities and the British government about the situation of Ms Hassan," said spokesperson Richard Boucher.

"We certainly share the concerns they have and share the concerns her family and friends have about her welfare.

"We will continue to work closely with others, including Iraqi authorities and the British, to try to secure her safe release," he told reporters.

Seeking a financial windfall

Hassan, who is married to an Iraqi and is a naturalised Iraqi citizen with dual nationality, was seized on her way to work in Baghdad, said Care officials.

Neighbours of Baghdad's Care office said the kidnappers could be criminals seeking a financial windfall or militants trying to pressure London, which is considering a US request to redeploy British troops in Iraq.

Hassan, thought to be in her 50s, has worked for Care International in Iraq since 1992 and has lived for more than 30 years in the country, according to the charity.

She appeared on Tuesday in a video on Al-Jazeera Arab-language satellite television, seated on a sofa and looking unharmed, but visibly distressed.

Blair condemns kidnapping

An Al-Jazeera news editor said the station had received the footage after she was kidnapped, but gave no further details.

It was still unclear who was holding Hassan.

British Prime Minister Tony Blair strongly condemned the kidnapping, and said London would work to secure her release.

The kidnapping follows a slew of hostage-taking and murders by several insurgent groups, including that of British contractor Ken Bigley, who was beheaded earlier in October.

Several other women aid workers have been kidnapped, but later released.

- AFP