French say hostages are alive
France is receiving information about the two French journalists held hostage in Iraq on a regular basis and, despite four months of captivity, they are in good health, Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said.
“We get information regularly. According to this information, we have the conviction that they are alive and that they are in good health,” Barnier said on RTL radio.
Christian Chesnot, a 37-year-old journalist for RTL, or Radio France Internationale, and Georges Malbrunot, 41, of the daily Le Figaro, disappeared on August 20 along with their Syrian driver on the road to the Iraqi city of Najaf.
A group calling itself the Islamic Army of Iraq claimed responsibility for the abductions.
The driver, Mohammed al-Joundi, was rescued on November 11 on a sweep of Fallujah by US Marines who said they found him handcuffed in a house. He said he was debriefed by American forces, who held him for about a week. He was brought to France on November 19.
Barnier did not elaborate further on the information France receives about the hostages or the steps being taken to win their freedom.
“I simply want to say clearly that we are mobilised,” he said. “We will remain so with our method – of patience, discretion and the conviction founded on confidence that we will obtain their liberation.”
Al-Joundi, the driver, spent 15 days with the hostages. He has said he was then transferred six times.
