French FM renews appeals for Iraq hostages' release

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier yesterday renewed calls for the release of the two French journalists taken hostage in Iraq ten days ago.

The two reporters were doing their job to clarify to the world the situation in Iraq and the hardships suffered by its people, he said in a press release.

Barnier said that Muslims in France can practice their religion freely, adding that the country had also vigorously rejected such concepts of a clash between Islam and the West.

He held talks yesterday with Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit and Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on coordinating efforts to help free the two hostages.

Paris has launched a flurry of diplomatic activities to secure the release of its two reporters, who went missing in Iraq on August 20.

Paris is a staunch advocate of Arab causes, chiefly the Iraqi and Palestinian.