Mufti offers family hope on Iraq hostage

[Tom Yossarian Joad]

Australian hostage Douglas Wood is still alive, and conditions for his safe release are expected to be announced within 48 hours, leading Australian Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilali said yesterday.

Sheikh Hilali contacted his former spokesman, Keysar Trad, with news that: "While everyone I meet is being very careful with me, I have been assured that Mr Wood is safe and well and that the deadline (for Australia to withdraw its troops from Iraq) has now been extended indefinitely."

The mufti also told Mr Trad: "While I am told the conditions for his release are likely to be strict, I am led to believe they will arrive in one or two days' time."

Sheikh Hilali's comments were backed up by claims that an Iraqi television station had received a letter reportedly from Mr Wood's kidnappers that claimed they had extended the deadline. Mr Wood has been at the mercy of a rebel group, the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Iraq, for two weeks. Its 72-hour deadline for Australia to withdraw its troops has long passed.

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http://www.theage.com.au/news/Iraq/Mufti-offers-family-hope-on-Iraq-hostage/2005/05/14/1116024408520.html?oneclick=true