Emergency team working on hostage leads

CANBERRA - An emergency response team sent to Iraq to help secure the release of Australian hostage Douglas Wood is still working on a number of leads, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said today.

The team was very active and determined to have Mr Wood released, but there was no news on Mr Wood's situation, Mr Downer said.

The 63-year-old engineer and two Iraqis were kidnapped in Baghdad three weeks ago by a group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Iraq.

"Our team is still on the ground there in Baghdad," Mr Downer told reporters.

"They're still remaining vigorous in their determination to try to get him released and are working on a number of different leads that they have.

"This, of course, is a difficult task but it's important that people understand that we're far from giving up.

"I know it hasn't been in the media very much in the last week or so but the fact is that our team is still very active on the ground and we're still very determined to try to get him released."

Australian Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj Aldin Alhilali has been in Iraq where he said on Friday he had spoken to Mr Wood's captors and expected him to be released within days.

Mr Downer welcomed news that three Romanian journalists and their guide had been released in Iraq after being held for two months, but said he would remain neutral on what any of these developments might mean for Mr Wood.

However, he said he would prefer to avoid speculation about what may be about to happen.

"We've been happy to assist Sheikh Alhilali's mission," Mr Downer added.

"I think he's trying hard and we appreciate the effort he's putting in. We're fully cooperating with him and assisting him."

- AAP