BlackRain
04-13-2004, 05:09 PM
French journalist taken hostage
Filed Under: We don't care if you opposed the war, you are still a target.
PARIS - France demanded the immediate release Tuesday of a French television journalist taken hostage in Iraq as he was videotaping an American military convoy under attack.
Alexandre Jordanov, a journalist for Capa Television in Paris, was kidnapped Sunday and has not been heard from since.
"We demand the unconditional release without delay of our compatriot and all civilians held against their will in Iraq," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Franck Duprat, a television editor who worked with Jordanov on an investigative television show called "The Real News," said he disappeared on the road south of Baghdad while traveling with cameraman Ivan Ceriex.
In a joint statement, Capa and Canal Plus, the cable television channel that broadcasts Jordanov's show, said the two men had stopped their car to film a U.S. convoy under attack when they were caught in the crossfire.
The two were separated after fleeing in different directions for cover, and Ceriex was picked up by a group of armed Sunni fighters. Ceriex, who lost his identity papers, was released by his kidnappers when he convinced them that he was French, the statement said.
He was released Monday on the streets of Baghdad. Jordanov was believed to be alive and held by armed Sunni combatants, the statement said.
The kidnapping came just hours after France urged its citizens Tuesday to leave Iraq. There are fewer than 100 French citizens in Iraq, mostly journalists, aid workers and the employees of private companies, Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said. Nearly all are in Baghdad.
France first issued its warning on Friday. In a statement, the foreign ministry said that the "risk is high that French citizens would be confused with those of member countries of the coalition."
France opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year and has no troops participating in the occupation.
Filed Under: We don't care if you opposed the war, you are still a target.
PARIS - France demanded the immediate release Tuesday of a French television journalist taken hostage in Iraq as he was videotaping an American military convoy under attack.
Alexandre Jordanov, a journalist for Capa Television in Paris, was kidnapped Sunday and has not been heard from since.
"We demand the unconditional release without delay of our compatriot and all civilians held against their will in Iraq," the French Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
Franck Duprat, a television editor who worked with Jordanov on an investigative television show called "The Real News," said he disappeared on the road south of Baghdad while traveling with cameraman Ivan Ceriex.
In a joint statement, Capa and Canal Plus, the cable television channel that broadcasts Jordanov's show, said the two men had stopped their car to film a U.S. convoy under attack when they were caught in the crossfire.
The two were separated after fleeing in different directions for cover, and Ceriex was picked up by a group of armed Sunni fighters. Ceriex, who lost his identity papers, was released by his kidnappers when he convinced them that he was French, the statement said.
He was released Monday on the streets of Baghdad. Jordanov was believed to be alive and held by armed Sunni combatants, the statement said.
The kidnapping came just hours after France urged its citizens Tuesday to leave Iraq. There are fewer than 100 French citizens in Iraq, mostly journalists, aid workers and the employees of private companies, Foreign Ministry spokesman Herve Ladsous said. Nearly all are in Baghdad.
France first issued its warning on Friday. In a statement, the foreign ministry said that the "risk is high that French citizens would be confused with those of member countries of the coalition."
France opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq last year and has no troops participating in the occupation.