LAT/Reuters: British Muslims Arrive (in Iraq) to Seek Hostage's Release

[DeepModem Mom]

THE CONFLICT IN IRAQ
British Muslims Arrive to Seek Hostage's Release


BAGHDAD — A two-man delegation from Britain's biggest Muslim group arrived in Iraq on Saturday on a quest to free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, who was seized by Islamic militants more than a week ago and threatened with death....

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The Muslim Council is Britain's largest lobby for the nation's 1.8 million Muslims. Representatives of one affiliate, the Muslim Assn. of Britain, appeared on the Arabic-language satellite TV channel Al Jazeera to make a direct appeal to the kidnappers for Bigley's release.

The pleas were made after the British government said it had distributed 50,000 leaflets in Baghdad at the request of Bigley's family members, who want to explore all means to save him.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Tony Blair, blamed by many for the hostage crisis because of his decision to go to war in Iraq, praised Bigley's family. The family members have been holed up in their house in Liverpool waiting for news of Bigley's fate.

"I think everyone is amazed at how dignified they have been over the last few days, and we will continue to do whatever we can," Blair said.


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-hostage26sep26,1,3834739.story?coll=la-home-world

[DeepModem Mom]

1. Adding link to kskiska's posting from the UK Guardian --

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x865953