Hostages - convoy under attack

2004-10-01 21:07

Damascus - A French MP involved in negotiations to free two French journalists held hostage in Iraq said on Friday that a convoy bringing the two to Syria came under US fire, scuttling their release.

The hostages - Christian Chesnot, 37, and Georges Malbrunot, 41 - were unharmed, Didier Julia told reporters in Damascus.

US forces in Iraq said they had no reports to indicate there was any truth to the allegation.

"I was expecting the return of our friends, the two journalists, today but this did not happen," Julia said in the Syrian capital.

"The first reason is security because the Americans greatly increased their bombing," he said.

Didier's announcement follows comments by an unofficial French negotiator who told a radio station on Friday that the two journalists could be released within hours.

Philippe Brett told Europe-1 radio that he was with the two French hostages and that negotiations were being finalised for their release.

Julia has worked for years with Brett, who is not an official negotiator for the French government.

The journalists disappeared on August 20 with their Syrian driver while apparently driving toward the city of Najaf.

Militants calling themselves the Islamic Army in Iraq claimed responsibility, demanding that France revoke a new law banning Islamic head scarves from state schools.

The law went into effect as planned.

- AP