Posted on 09/26/2004 12:11:28 PM PDT by HAL9000
REPORTS: HOSTAGE IS ALIVE
British hostage Ken Bigley is still alive, according to a London-based Islamist activist.
Yasser al-Serri, director of the Islamic Observation Centre, said the Iraqi militants behind the kidnapping had replied to his appeal for information.
There has been no independent confirmation however and the Foreign Office is treating the news with extreme caution.
Two negotiators from the Muslim Council of Britain are making efforts in Iraq to secure the release of hostage Kenneth Bigley.
Dr Daud Abdullah and Dr Musharraf Hussain met religious leaders and other influential Iraqis in Baghdad.
"We want to get a message to the abductors. Whoever is holding Mr Bigley we are endeavouring to get a message to those captors. The message is simple. It is a humanitarian one," said Dr Abdullah.
Dr Musharraf Hussain added: "I think as fellow British citizens it is our responsibility to do what we can. I believe in the power of prayer.
Meanwhile, Tony Blair says the government will do everything it can to secure Mr Bigley's release but warned against the raising of false hopes.
Mr Blair and his wife Cherie joined churchgoers praying for the safe return of Mr Bigley.
They were at St Peter's Church in Brighton for the traditional service before Labour's annual conference gets under way.
In a TV interview, Mr Blair was asked about his feelings on viewing Mr Bigley's plea for help from the Prime Minister.
"My first reaction is the reaction of anyone, which is real sympathy for him, anger at how he is being held by those people and an earnest hope that, despite all the difficulties, we can do something.
"But I just don't know if we are able to or not".
Pray that this news is true.
Don't know what to believe at this point.
I hope this is true, but even if it is, the butchers will still behead him, barring a miracle. As for the Italian women, I still maintain that women have no place in a war zone, for any reason.
I pray & hope that Mr. Bigley and the 2 italian women are alive, also.
I wonder why no one from CAIR went to plea for the lives of Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Hensley? /s
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