Fate of hostages unknown
2004-09-14 21:13
Brussels - Iraqi President Ghazi al-Yawar expressed hope on Tuesday that French and Italian hostages held in his country are still alive, saying Baghdad is doing everything it can to help secure their release.
Speaking after talks with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana, he said the kidnapping of two French journalists and two female Italian aid workers showed that "this thing effects peoples lives as far as Paris and Rome".
"Nobody's immune to these terrorists .. This very sad situation proves once again (that) whoever is to trying to undermine our progress towards a safe and free society in Iraq is affecting even countries outside of Iraq," he added.
Al-Yawar said the Iraqi government was "exerting all our efforts" to secure the safe return of the hostages.
"I hope they are still alive. We don't know," he said.
Italian aid workers Simona Pari and Simona Torreta were kidnapped at gunpoint from their Baghdad offices last week, while French reporters Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were kidnapped on August 20.
- AFP