[-Tigger-]

http://www.sky.com/skynews/article/0...207173,00.html

Family: 'Please Free Him'
Updated: 11:50, Saturday December 24, 2005

The family of British hostage Norman Kember is making a special Christmas appeal for his release.

Advertisements in Arabic are being printed in Iraqi newspapers and broadcast on radio over the next three days.

They are calling on Mr Kember's kidnappers to free him and three other Westerners in the spirit of a new era for the country.

Part of the appeal reads: "This is a new start for Iraq and Iraqis to take control of their own destiny. It is a time for new starts.


"Many clerics and religious figures from the Arab and Muslim world have spoken over the past weeks of the good work they were doing in Iraq and that their organisation has done in Palestine, and they have called for their release."

There is still no news of the 74-year-old peace campaigner from Pinner in northwest London.

He was seized in Baghdad on November 26 along with James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, both Canadians, and an American, Tom Fox, 54.

A group calling itself the Swords Of Righteousness Brigade said it had abducted the four peace activists.

It had threatened to kill the men by December 10 unless Iraqi prisoners were released.

There has been no news of the hostages since the deadline expired.

i think its bad enough taking them hostage, but ffs 2 weeks and not even contacting anyone to say if they were alive or dead? what bast.rds..