Menu
09/12/2005
Fears grow as hostage deadline looms
There have been fresh calls for the release of four peace activists, including Briton Norman Kember, being held hostage in Iraq.
Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at the Guantanamo Bay centre, has urged the kidnappers to release the hostages. He told the BBC’s ‘Newsnight’ programme: “It is our sincerest belief that Norman Kember, the 74-year-old Briton and those with him are amongst those people, the many people who opposed this war from the beginning and were only in Iraq to promote human rights for the oppressed.”
Mr Kember, from Pinner, London, was seized in Baghdad on November 26, along with two Canadians – James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 – and one American, Tom Fox, 54.
All four worked for the Christian Peacemaker Teams, a Canada-based international peace team.
Their captors, a previously unknown group calling themselves the Swords of Truth Brigade, have claimed that the hostages were spies.
The group had threatened to kill the hostages by Thursday, unless all detainees in Iraq were released. However, the latest video issued by the group – which showed the hostages wearing Guantanamo Bay-style orange jumpsuits and shackles – said that the deadline had been extended until Saturday.
Meanwhile, another group, calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, has claimed that it killed Ronald Schulz, an American industrial electrician, because of a failure by the US government to release Islamic prisoners. No evidence has been yet been provided to support the claims.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has urged the kidnappers to contact British government workers in Iraq.
Radical cleric, Abu Qatada, who is in jail in London, also recorded a video message calling for the hostages to be released.
(KMcA/SP)
Moazzam Begg, a former detainee at the Guantanamo Bay centre, has urged the kidnappers to release the hostages. He told the BBC’s ‘Newsnight’ programme: “It is our sincerest belief that Norman Kember, the 74-year-old Briton and those with him are amongst those people, the many people who opposed this war from the beginning and were only in Iraq to promote human rights for the oppressed.”
Mr Kember, from Pinner, London, was seized in Baghdad on November 26, along with two Canadians – James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32 – and one American, Tom Fox, 54.
All four worked for the Christian Peacemaker Teams, a Canada-based international peace team.
Their captors, a previously unknown group calling themselves the Swords of Truth Brigade, have claimed that the hostages were spies.
The group had threatened to kill the hostages by Thursday, unless all detainees in Iraq were released. However, the latest video issued by the group – which showed the hostages wearing Guantanamo Bay-style orange jumpsuits and shackles – said that the deadline had been extended until Saturday.
Meanwhile, another group, calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq, has claimed that it killed Ronald Schulz, an American industrial electrician, because of a failure by the US government to release Islamic prisoners. No evidence has been yet been provided to support the claims.
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has urged the kidnappers to contact British government workers in Iraq.
Radical cleric, Abu Qatada, who is in jail in London, also recorded a video message calling for the hostages to be released.
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
08 December 2005
Foreign Secretary calls for Iraq hostage release
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has repeated calls for the release of four peace activists in Iraq, as their kidnappers announced that the deadline for their execution had been extended.
Foreign Secretary calls for Iraq hostage release
Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has repeated calls for the release of four peace activists in Iraq, as their kidnappers announced that the deadline for their execution had been extended.
05 December 2005
Iraq hostage's wife makes TV appeal
The wife of British man Norman Kember, who was kidnapped in Iraq last week, has made an appeal begging his captors to release him. In a video broadcast on Arabic television network al-Jazeera, Pat Kember described her husband as a man who believed in peace and who had only gone to Iraq to help its people.
Iraq hostage's wife makes TV appeal
The wife of British man Norman Kember, who was kidnapped in Iraq last week, has made an appeal begging his captors to release him. In a video broadcast on Arabic television network al-Jazeera, Pat Kember described her husband as a man who believed in peace and who had only gone to Iraq to help its people.
01 December 2005
Anti-war campaigner intervenes in hostage crisis
A British anti-war campaigner is travelling to Iraq in an attempt to secure the release of peace activist Norman Kember. Anas Altikriti will fly to Iraq on Friday to attempt to appeal directly for the release of Mr Kember and three other hostages.
Anti-war campaigner intervenes in hostage crisis
A British anti-war campaigner is travelling to Iraq in an attempt to secure the release of peace activist Norman Kember. Anas Altikriti will fly to Iraq on Friday to attempt to appeal directly for the release of Mr Kember and three other hostages.
01 September 2004
Rioting follows 'gruesome murders' of 12 Nepalese
The barbaric executions of 12 Nepalese civilians in Iraq has led to severe rioting in Kathmandu, where angry protesters attacked a mosque and the offices of two Middle East airlines.
Rioting follows 'gruesome murders' of 12 Nepalese
The barbaric executions of 12 Nepalese civilians in Iraq has led to severe rioting in Kathmandu, where angry protesters attacked a mosque and the offices of two Middle East airlines.
24 March 2006
Norman Kember to return to UK
The wife of British hostage Norman Kember, who is reported to be on his way back to the UK, has spoken of her joy at the release of her husband after four months of being held captive in Iraq. Pat Kember told a radio station in New Zealand that she was "thrilled" that her peace activist husband had been freed, along with two Canadian colleagues.
Norman Kember to return to UK
The wife of British hostage Norman Kember, who is reported to be on his way back to the UK, has spoken of her joy at the release of her husband after four months of being held captive in Iraq. Pat Kember told a radio station in New Zealand that she was "thrilled" that her peace activist husband had been freed, along with two Canadian colleagues.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.
