extended a deadline to kill their hostages for a further 48 hours.
The group known as the "Swords of Truth" had threatened to kill Canadians James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, US national Tom Fox, 54, and Briton Norman Kember, 74 unless Iraqi detainees in American and Iraqi detention centers are released.
The captives are members of Christian Peacemakers Team (CPT), an international organization working for reducing conflict in crisis areas around the world. "We are distressed that those who have taken our friends, Harmeet, Tom, Norman and Jim, could try and bargain with their lives," stressed CPT, one of the few aid groups still active in volatile Iraq.
FAMILIES WORRIED
"We want to understand why they would do such a thing. The taking of lives in any circumstance is against every thing we stand for. Please, whoever is holding them, release them all unharmed. Their families are very worried about them and we want their safe return home."
News of the extension of the deadline came after an inmate identified as Osama bin Laden’s ambassador in Europe pleaded from Full Sutton High Security Prison near York in Britain for the group to let the hostages go.
The message from Abu Qatada, jailed as a security threat since last August, was beamed to Middle East satellite stations
"I urge you to release the four prisoners," Qatada said. "This is a merciful act according to the principles respected by Islam and God."
SCHROEDER APPEALS
Earlier former German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder also appealed for the release of a German woman and her driver who were seized in Iraq.
"I appeal to the kidnappers of Susanne Osthoff and her driver, I appeal to your humanity and your compassion," Schroeder, a vocal opponent to the US-led Iraq war, said in a recording made by German public station ZDF and to be shown on Arabic channel Aljazeera.
Osthoff, a German archaeologist and aid worker, and the driver went missing almost two weeks ago. They then appeared in a videotape sent by kidnappers who demanded Berlin end all cooperation with the US-backed Iraqi government.
200 FOREIGNERS CAPTURED
More than 200 foreigners have been seized since the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and around 50 have been executed since 2004. On Sunday, December 4, an anti-war envoy met with Sunni Muslim groups in Iraq in a bid to secure the release of the four Christians.
A leading member of the British anti-war movement, Anas Altikriti, said he would try to secure the safe release of Norman Kember and the other hostages.
Some have already called for their release and Iraq’s largest Sunni party, the Iraqi Islamic party, said the kidnapping tarnished the image of Islam. "The kidnapping will have a grave negative effect among those who call for ending occupation," it reportedly said.
CPT’s Regional Group Development Coordinator, Sara Reschly told BosNewsLife earlier that she was "am happy that they are alive." Despite the difficulties and threats Reschly said "we are hopeful they will be released soon." (With reports from Iraq and BosNewsLife Research).
