Irish concerned for hostage
2004-10-21 14:15
Dublin - Ireland's upper house of parliament passed on Thursday a unanimous motion calling for the immediate release of Dublin-born humanitarian aid chief Margaret Hassan from her kidnappers in Iraq.
In a special debate, the senate condemned hostagetaking and pledged full support for the efforts of Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's government to secure the release of Hassan, who has dual British and Iraqi citizenship.
Foreign Minister Dermot Ahern told the senate he had contacted Hassan's husband Tahsine Ali Hassan and her immediate family, as well as governments and organisations in the region that might be of assistance.
Hassan, director of the relief agency Care International in Iraq, was taken hostage on Tuesday as she drove to her office in Baghdad.
Her family lives in Ireland
The senate's motion follows the unanimous adoption of a similar resolution by the Dail (lower house of parliament) on Wednesday.
Dermot Ahern said that a foreign ministry official has travelled to County Kerry in the south-west of Ireland to act as liaison with members of Hassan's family who live there.
"Overnight, we have been in discussion with the Egyptian and Jordanian governments, and with Arab League contacts. We will continue with these efforts," he said.
Ahern said he would be discussing Hassan's case in detail later Thursday with visiting Palestinian foreign minister Nabil Shaath.