Douglas Wood Gets More Time

From AFP:

THE Australian cleric in Iraq to negotiate the release of hostage Douglas Wood said today an ultimatum to withdraw Australian troops had been lifted indefinitely to allow further talks.

"The kidnappers have postponed the ultimatum indefinitely," Sheik Taj Din al-Hilali said. "We have had indirect contacts and things seem to be heading in the right direction."

Nothing has been heard of 63-year-old Australian contractor Mr Wood since his kidnappers released a DVD, which was broadcast on May 6 and set a 72-hour deadline for Australian troops to leave Iraq.

Australia has refused the kidnappers' demands.

Sheik Hilali has mainly met clerics from the Committee of Muslim Scholars, which is the highest Sunni authority in Iraq and has often mediated for the release of foreign hostages.

At the weekend, Mr Wood's family launched an advertising campaign in the Iraqi media asking for public help in finding him.

Hopefully, Mr. Wood is being treated humanely by his captors. Thankfully, he is still alive.