New Excecution Deadline for Hostages in Iraq

By Laura Chiriac in Bucharest
Wednesday, 27 April , 2005, 08:40

The kidnappers of three Romanian journalists held in Iraq on Tuesday set a new ultimatum for their execution, hours after the employer of two of the hostages announced they were still alive.

The kidnappers have given Bucharest until 13.00 (GMT) on Wednesday to announce the withdrawal of its 860 troops from Iraq in order to save the journalists' lives, Al-Jazeera television reported.

The Arab satellite news channel said it had a video showing the hostages with their hands tied, and setting the new deadline for Bucharest. An earlier ultimatum expired on Tuesday.

Prima TV reporter Marie-Jeanne Ion and cameraman Sorin Miscoci were seized in a Baghdad suburb on March 28, along with Romania Libera correspondent Eduard Ohanesian.

...In Tuesday's broadcast, Al-Jazeera played soundless extracts showing the three journalists and a fourth hostage, a US-Iraqi businessman, Mohamed Munaf, kidnapped at the same time as them.

According to Al-Jazeera, Munaf appealed to US President George W Bush to intervene to save his life. Romanian media have identified Munaf as the journalists' guide in Iraq.

From the Washington Post:

Hundreds of Romanians and Arabs gathered downtown the Romanian capital calling for the release of the three journalists, hours before a deadline set by the kidnappers for the pullout of Romanian troops from Iraq. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)

...Romanians demonstrated by the hundreds in Bucharest and other cities Tuesday. Carrying posters saying "Freedom" in Romanian, English and Arabic, they stood in silence in Bucharest's University Square. The rally continued late into the night, with supporters pledging to remain there until the hostages are freed.

Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu appealed to Romanians to be calm.

"Please trust that Romanian authorities are making all efforts to bring them (the hostages) home safely," he said.
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These tapes are absolutely heartbreaking.

Condoleezza Rice reiterates that we don't negotiate with terrorists. Romania does not appear to be ready to capitulate. In the meantime, we are treated to these deeply disturbing scenes on Aljazeera.

There is still no new information about Jeffrey Ake, the American from LaPorte, Indiana, being held hostage in Iraq since April 11.

I pray the terrorists spare all their lives. I pray for their families.

One more thing: I think it would be appropriate for Ted Kennedy to make a statement about the barbaric methods of these terrorist kidnappers.

I would like to see him mark the anniversaries of the exeutions of hostages by Iraqis, rather than harping on Abu Ghraib.

Of course, he says nothing, because condemning terrorists doesn't score political points.