hostage

Hostage Brit pleads for release in new video

A British security guard held hostage in Iraq for eight months has appeared alive in a video appeal to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to release coalition-held Iraqis in exchange for his freedom. But the demand is unlikely to be met; British forces no longer hold any prisoners. See the video here…

The video was aired on the al-Arabiya TV channel on Tuesday night (26 Feb.08)

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Statement from the father of one of the FARC hostages

Will they stay or will they go? While everyone eagerly awaits the liberation of Clara Rojas, her son Emmanuel and the former lawmaker Consuelo González Pérdomo, our Observers report on the atmosphere in Colombia. The father of hostage Ismael Márquez hopes that the release of some of the prisoners will speed up the process for his son, who’s been held captive since 1999. Meanwhile, Ingrid Betancourt's stepson reminds us that as the FARC’s most high-profile hostage, she will be the last to leave. Read more...

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Finally, proof of life

By Team Observers

The Colombian government has just issued the first images of the French-Colombian hostage Ingrid Betancourt since 2003. For her distraught family, the images are proof that Betancourt, who was captured by FARC rebels in Feb. 2003, is still alive. The Colombian government said the video was taken from three FARC guerillas captured by the army. For more information go to France 24.

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