Plea for hostage's freedom shown on Al-Jazeera

A videotaped plea by the mother of kidnapped Aucklander Harmeet Singh Sooden for his release in Iraq has been aired by Arabic television network Al-Jazeera, TV3 said today.

TV3 had not yet seen the bulletin, but Auckland bureau chief Keith Slater said it had received confirmation that Manjeet Kaur Sooden's plea on behalf of her son had been broadcast.

"TV3 has confirmed with Al-Jazeera that it has been screened," he said. "It will be of great comfort to the family."

TV3 last night sent the footage by satellite via London and ensured Al-Jazeera was recording it, after concerns the Arabic network had failed to received it through another source.

Mr Sooden, a 32-year-old Auckland-based Canadian, was abducted by militants late last month with three fellow aid workers, all members of Christian Peacemaker Teams.

His mother made a televised plea last weekend for him to be released.


Al Jazeera editor-in-chief Ahmad Sheikh said Mrs Sooden's plea was likely to continue to be broadcast over 24 hours.


"We usually play these things for 24 hours," he told Radio Live.


"It's the news cycle. Then we have to stop it. You have to keep updating your news or it becomes outdated. By tomorrow morning, it will come to an end."


- NZPA