Paris intensifies efforts with the end of the grace period to two journalists kidnappers
Iraq-France, Politics, 9/1/2004

The additional grace period given by the kidnappers of the two French Journalists in Iraq expired amid intensive efforts by the French diplomacy in the Middle East in order to release its two citizens and the increased calls to release them.

A group calling itself the " Islamic army in Iraq, seizing the two French journalists missed since August 20 had given France a 48 hours grace period ended on Monday evening in order " to abrogate the law which bans wearing the veil " and then extended it to 24 other hours that expired on Tuesday midnight.

France, however, is working on all levels using all its diplomatic capacity to release the two journalists Christian Shino and George Malberno and their driver of a Syrian nationality.

In a press conference held on Tuesday in Russia, the French President Jacque Chirac repeated his call for the kidnappers to release the two journalist.

Meantime, the French foreign minister Michael Barnieh continues his tour in several Arab states in the course of intensive efforts to avert his held citizens execution.

Simultaneously, the French media said that Paris sent to Iraq its chief security expert in a diplomatic effort, behind the scenes. He is the chief of the intelligence department and the expert in Arab affairs Gen. Philip Rondo in order to support the current efforts. The French ministry of defense abstained from confirming or denying that.

Previous Stories:
  The two French Journalists kidnapped in Iraq call for abrogating veil law   (8/31/2004)
  France support Saddam's legitimate court, Iran wants it to be open   (7/3/2004)
  Al-Assad confers with French President advisor   (11/11/2003)

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