Hostage has heart problems

2005-05-04 09:21

Canberra - Australia on Wednesday appealed for the release of an Australian engineer kidnapped in Iraq, saying he has a serious heart condition.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said he made the plea in an interview with the Arabic al-Jazeera network in New York after an Australian task force arrived in Baghdad to work for the release of Douglas Wood, a 63-year-old resident of California with an American wife.

"I made the point in the interview with al-Jazeera that Douglas Wood is not a well man," Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio on Wednesday in New York. "He has a very serious heart condition; he has a problem with one of his eyes as well."

Prime Minister John Howard has ruled out paying any ransom or meeting the insurgents' demands to withdraw Australia troops from Iraq, but has said the government would do all it can to secure Wood's freedom.

Wood's nephew in the Australian capital Canberra, Nick Wood, said Australian relatives also hoped to release a video taped statement on Wednesday appealing for his release.

David Edge and Jim Fidge, school friends of Douglas Wood, said his family remained worried but confident of the government's actions.

"I spoke to one of the brothers yesterday and of course they're very worried and upset by the whole thing," Edge told the Seven Network television.

"But they have confidence in the government's ... very quick reaction to the whole problem, so hopefully that will bear results," he added

Fidge described Wood as easygoing with a strong religious background.

"I gather this will give him some sort of background for resilience, I guess," Fidge told Seven.

"But it's a terribly serious situation to be in and one can only guess, really," he added.

A task force of Australian defence personnel, police and diplomats arrived in Baghdad late on Tuesday to try to secure Wood's release with the help of the United Nations.

Downer said it is believed that Wood was kidnapped from his Baghdad apartment or on his way to work perhaps 48 hours before video footage showing him pleading for his life was released at the weekend.

"We're making a very big effort to (get Wood out alive); so are our friends and allies and so are the Iraqis," Downer said.

- AP