Kidnappers extend deadline
DOHA, Qatar(AFP) – The captors of two French journalists in Iraq have extended, by 24 hours, an ultimatum to Paris to revoke a ban on Islamic headscarves in state schools, Al-Jazeera TV said yesterday after the original deadline expired.
Al-Jazeera showed a statement it said it received from the Islamic Army of Iraq, which is holding the newsmen, in which they announce the extension of the ultimatum.
“In response to the two hostages’ quest to convey their voice (views) to their people and government, the Islamic Army of Iraq has decided to extend the deadline by 24 hours,” the statement said.
The newsmen, Radio France correspondent Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot of Le Figaro newspaper, were shown in a video aired by the Qatar-based news channel calling on the French Government to revoke the ban, and on the French people to demonstrate against the legislation.