FRENCH HOSTAGE DOUBTS REMAIN
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Unexpected difficulties have apparently impeded the hoped-for release of two French journalists being held captive in Iraq. The staging of a joint Iraqi-US counter insurgency raid in Latifiya, southern Iraq
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Violence and uncertainty over the fate of the two French hostages continued in Iraq, while militants freed seven truck drivers from India, Kenya and Egypt yesterday after holding them hostage for six weeks, ...
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Two French hostages held in Iraq are being well treated but there are hurdles to overcome to secure their release, officials said.
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France said on Sunday two French reporters held hostage with their Syrian driver in Iraq were still alive a few days ago.
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BAGHDAD/PARIS  - A French Muslim delegation in  Iraq said Thursday they had proof that two French hostages held  by Islamic militants were alive, even though France refused to  lift a ban on Muslim headscarves as the school year began.
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PARIS France&#39;s effort to secure the release of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq appeared to be in disarray Monday after a conservative member of Parliament and self-styled mediator revealed he had lost contact with the kidnappers over the
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France remained hopeful on Sunday that two French hostages in Iraq would be freed and a religious fatwa issued in Iraq demanded their release.
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Hopes that Islamic militants will soon free two French hostages in Iraq rose on Friday, despite confusion over which group is now holding them.
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The two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq were still alive a few days ago and are likely to be freed, France&#39;s foreign minister said last night.
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French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin on Monday expressed skepticism over the alleged new demands of the militants holding two French journalists hostage in Iraq, saying they had yet to be authenticated.
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The waiting and wondering continued Sunday about the fate of British hostage, Kenneth Bigley, although one Muslim activist says he is still alive.
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France does not yet know whether a French female journalist missing in Iraq since early on Wednesday has been taken hostage, Foreign Minister Michel Barnier says.
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Hopes for a speedy release of two French hostages in Iraq gave way to expressions of doubt and concern Tuesday after a statement setting out new demands for their release was posted on a Web site.
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France has scrambled to secure the freedom of two French journalists kidnapped by Iraqi militants who gave Paris until Monday evening to drop its controversial ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.
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PARIS, Sep 8  (IPS) - The two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq more  than three weeks back are still in  captivity despite efforts by  French and Iraqi leaders to secure their freedom.
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PARIS: France has pledged not to yield to Iraqi kidnappers who have taken two journalists hostage and are demanding the repeal of a law banning Islamic headscarves in state schools.
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The fate of two French journalists kidnapped in Iraq remained unclear last night as a deadline passed with no word on their fate, while an Iraqi militant group said it had freed seven truck drivers seized more than a month ago.