Insurgents could mediate Bigley release, paper says

11.00am

KUWAIT - An Iraqi insurgent group is expected to start mediating with the captors of British hostage Kenneth Bigley for his possible release, a Kuwaiti newspaper says, citing militant sources.

"There's near certain information that points to the entry of an Iraqi militant group into negotiations and mediation with the Tawhid and Jihad Group for the release of the British hostage," al-Rai al-Aam said on Saturday, quoting "informed Islamist sources" in Iraq.

The Kuwaiti daily earlier this week accurately predicted the imminent release of two Italian hostages for a large ransom. The women, who were being held by Iraqi militants, were subsequently released and returned to Italy.

It said negotiations for Bigley's release could also centre on a ransom, but gave no more details.

The Tawhid and Jihad Group led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has threatened to kill Bigley after it beheaded two US civilians who it seized along with him last month. The group has demanded the release of women prisoners in Iraq.

Al-Rai al-Aam's managing editor said the same group that had held the Italians was the one involved in the Bigley talks.

"They are the same sources that told us about the two Italian hostages ... The faction that is likely to do the mediating is the same group that held the Italian women," Ali el-Roz told Reuters.

"The source called from Baghdad and said: 'Some religious leaders and mediators have pressured us to mediate with Tawhid and Jihad to find a way out, if there is a way out'," he said.

Bigley, a 62-year-old engineer, has made two videotaped appeals in which he begged Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet his kidnappers demand and work to free him.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq