Aus won't give in to kidnappers

2005-05-02 08:16

Sydney - Australia will send an emergency team to Iraq to seek the release of a kidnapped Australian contractor but will not bow to the militants' demand to withdraw its troops, Prime Minister John Howard said on Monday.

Howard, whose country has about 550 troops in the country and is deploying 350 more, said foreign policy could not be "dictated by terrorists" and described the abduction as "an evil act".

The kidnapping of Douglas Wood, 63, was revealed late on Sunday when his captors released a videotape showing him pleading for his life and calling on Australia, the United States and Britain to withdraw their soldiers from Iraq.

Wood, an engineer, has lived in the United States since 1992 and is married to an American. He was working on construction projects in Iraq when he was seized.

"Please help me. I don't want to die," says Wood, seated on the floor and sandwiched between two masked men armed with assault rifles.

"My captives are fiercely patriotic - they believe in a strong united Iraq looking after its own destiny," he says, adding that he comes from Alamo in California.

The videotape bears the words Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq. The group has previously claimed responsibility for attacks on US soldiers and Iraqi forces, as well as the kidnapping of a Turk who was freed in September.

Militants released statement

The militants released a statement with the tape, saying it was timed to coincide with Australian Defence Minister Robert Hill's weekend visit to Iraq.

"We'll continue to do all we can consistent with our position on not giving in to hostage-takers and we can't alter that position and we won't alter that position," said Howard, one of US President George W Bush's staunchest allies.

"We can't have the foreign policy of this country dictated by terrorists," he told ABC radio, adding that he had been dreading such a situation.

Wood's wife Pearl said she had seen the video and the man was definitely her husband, who had been in Iraq for more than a year.

Other members of the family, in a statement issued in Canberra by one of his brothers Malcolm, expressed great concern at his plight.

"As brothers of Douglas Wood we are distressed and extremely concerned about his situation," it said.

"We trust that our government and its officials, liaising with other governments and agencies as appropriate, will do all that is reasonably in their power to confirm his situation and develop a response."

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said it was not known where and when Wood had been taken or how long he had been held. Australia's troop commitment remained, he said.

Downer said the team heading to Iraq would include diplomats, federal police and defence personnel.

"An inter-departmental task force has met and will be deploying an emergency response team," Downer said.

- AFP