Aus rejects latest ultimatum

2005-05-07 10:18

Sydney - Australia said on Saturday it was upset by the release of a new video showing an Australian contractor held hostage in Iraq, but reaffirmed it would not bow to a 72-hour deadline given by the insurgents for Canberra to withdraw its troops from the country.

A militant group holding engineer Douglas Wood gave the 72-hour ultimatum in a video broadcast by the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera television on Friday.

"The group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq, which is holding Australian hostage Douglas Wood, gave Australian authorities 72 hours to start withdrawing their forces from Iraq," Al-Jazeera said.

The network did not say what the group would do if its ultimatum was not met but in an earlier video released on Sunday Wood said his captors would kill him if Australia did not withdraw its troops from Iraq. Canberra has about 550 soldiers stationed in Iraq with another 350 soon to be deployed.

Foreign minister Alexander Downer on Saturday that the video was upsetting but he reiterated Australia's insistence that it would not give in to hostage-takers' demands.

"If you give in to demands, more people will be taken in time," he told Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) radio.

"They asked for that initially - for us to withdraw, they want to generate major national controversy and debate," he said.

In the video, a shaven-headed Wood is seen sitting on the floor holding up an identity photo that appears to be his passport, with the two gun barrels pointed at his head.

'Cause for concern'

Downer said Wood's appearance was a cause for "concern".

"He doesn't look as though he is being well treated, and that just encourages us to be all the more determined to try to get him released," said Downer, who was in the United States on a visit.

"I know people will be upset by the tape but we just need to keep the work going and attempt to get him released," he said.

Wood, 63, suffers from heart problems, officials said earlier. A team of Australian diplomats, police and military personnel are in Baghdad seeking Wood's freedom.

A statement issued by Wood's brother Malcolm said the family was "shocked and horrified" to hear of the ultimatum issued by the insurgents and appealed to his captors to provide him with needed medical care.

"Douglas is a warm man of generous heart and spirit. His work is to help the people of Iraq towards a better life," the statement said.

"We respect the people of Iraq, their patriotic spirit and their right to independence. We do not believe Douglas's captivity, or this ultimatum, will make any difference to the policy of the Australian government," it said.

"We would like to repeat that should Douglas be released we will ask him to close down his company and leave Iraq. We do not wish Douglas, an unwell man, to remain in Iraq, away from his family.

- AFP