Daughter of Australian hostage makes heartfelt plea

CANBERRA - The daughter of Australian hostage Douglas Wood has made a heartfelt plea to kidnappers to free her father.

Mr Wood's daughter Christina told her father's captors via a letter on the internet that her thoughts and prayers were always with the Iraqi people.

"I sympathise with their plight, how difficult things are over there right now, and pray for a peaceful and independent future for Iraq," she said.

"In my thoughts and prayers I see my Dad surrounded by strength, peace, and protection to help him through this ordeal.

"I focus on filling him with physical, emotional, and spiritual strength.

"I also focus in on his captors as well, recognising they have had very difficult lives that have shaped them into who they are, and send them prayers and love to open their hearts and minds so they will choose to release my Dad soon to us, his family."

A drawing by Christina's 10-year-old daughter, which reads; "I love you grandpa!", was also on the website.

Meanwhile, there has been no word on whether Australia's top Islamic leader, Sheik Taj Aldin Alhilali, had been successful in learning if kidnappers will let Mr Wood go or what it would take for them to release him.

The 63-year-old Australian engineer has been held for more than two weeks by a rebel group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Iraq.

The last official word from his captors was a week ago, when they demanded the withdrawal of Australian troops from Iraq and issued a DVD showing Mr Wood battered, bruised and pleading for help.

- AAP