Hope for hostage's release

2005-05-18 11:09

Sydney - An Australian Muslim leader has raised hopes that Islamic militants in Iraq could soon free Australian hostage Douglas Wood, saying he has received the news in a phone call from an unidentified man claiming to represent the kidnappers.

Sheikh Taj Eldin Al Hilali, who flew to Iraq to try to negotiate the contractor's release, has told Australia's SBS Arabic radio that the caller expressed willingness to free Wood - possibly within 24 hours - but not two Iraqi hostages.

SBS radio journalist Majida Abboud-Saab said she spoke to the sheikh early on Wednesday and he told her of the conversation with the alleged representative of the abductors. It was not clear when that conversation took place.

"They said that they were willing to release Douglas Wood, however they are not willing to release the other two Iraqis," Abboud-Saab said.

"They are not placing any conditions on his release.

"He (Sheikh Al Hilali) is very convinced and he is very optimistic and he is very happy about the fact that they have agreed to release Douglas.

"But he is very upset about the fact that the other two Iraqis are not going to be released."

A spokesperson for Sydney's Muslim community said the sheikh had handed over vital medication to be delivered to Wood's captors.

"The strongest bit of news that we have at the moment is that the medication has changed hands, the mufti (Al Hilali) has given this medication to be taken to Mr Wood and this is a very good sign," Keysar Trad told Sky News.

"All the comments, all the gestures, all the signals he (Al Hilali) is receiving from the community leaders, from the tribal elders, from virtually everyone he's coming across is that he will not be allowed to return empty-handed."

Prime Minister John Howard expressed cautious optimism at the reports.

"We have to treat this with a bit of caution," he said.

"We would all hope that it's right but we would also be aware in a situation like this there always people who may represent things - I don't mean the sheikh - others who may be representing to him things that are not correct."

Abboud-Saab said the sheikh would now extend his stay in Iraq indefinitely instead of returning to Australia as planned this week.

Wood, 63, was seized at the end of last month and his captors are demanding that Australia pull its troops out of Iraq. Nothing has been heard of him since the kidnappers released a DVD which was broadcast on May 6 and which set a 72-hour deadline for the demand to be met.

"Move out of Iraq or I will be killed," said an exhausted-looking Wood, pictured with two rifles pointed at his head. His head had been shaved and he had facial bruising.

Australia, which has about 550 soldiers stationed in Iraq and another 350 soon to be deployed, rejects the demand.

- AFP