Concern over the fate of four foreign journalists

Reporters Without Borders today voiced alarm about the fate of American journalist Micah Garen and his Iraqi interpreter, Amir Doshe, whose abductors have not yet released them despite promises to do so after evening prayers two days ago. The organisation said it was also worried about three other journalists from whom there has been no word for several days: Christian Chesnot of Radio France Internationale (RFI), Georges Malbrunot of the French daily Le Figaro and Enzo Baldoni of the Italian newspaper Diario. "We are deeply concerned about Micah Garen and his interpreter, who had been threatened with execution by their kidnappers," Reporters Without Borders said. "The promise to release them on 20 August after evening prayers was not kept. No effort should be spared in order to bring an immediate end to the horrible threats being made against them." Noting that 38 journalists have died since the start of the war in Iraq, the organisation said it was alarmed by the growing number being kidnapped. "These are civilians who should under no circumstances be taken hostage by any participants in the fighting and should not be identified with the policies of the countries of which they are a citizens." Reporters Without Borders added: "The lack of any news of Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot and Enzo Baldoni is obviously very worrying." The pan-Arab TV station Al-Jazeera broadcast a video on 18 August in which Garen's kidnappers threatened to execute him if US forces did not pull out of the holy city of Najaf within 48 hours. An aide of Shiite rebel leader Moqtada al-Sadr said on 20 August that Garen's kidnappers told him they would release him after prayers that day. Garen said in a video broadcast by Al-Jazeera that he was being well-treated by his kidnappers. Al-Sadr aide Sheikh Raed al-Kazemi told Agence France-Presse (AFP) yesterday he was still in contact with Garen's abductors and that, "I can say that he will be released in two days." Garen was making a film about cultural history and protection of ancient sites in war zones for his own New York-based production company, Four Corners Media, which supplies film, photo and written reports for major US media. There has been no news of Baldoni since 19 August, after he left Baghdad for Najaf with an Italian Red Cross convoy and a TV crew with the Italian public broadcaster Rai Uno, who eventually turned back because of the risks. Pino Scaccia of Rai Uno said Baldoni, who had no satellite phone, decided to press on alone to Najaf with the aim of interviewing al-Sadr. A member of the Diario editorial staff, Gianni Barbaceto, was quoted by AFP as saying that Baldoni's driver-interpreter had reportedly been found dead. This has not been confirmed, but "if true, we would have reason to be alarmed." Barbaceto told AFP. There has also been no word of Chesnot and Malbrunot for the past two or three days and their employers have voiced concern. Le Figaro deputy foreign editor Jean-Louis Validire told Reporters Without Borders he was "somewhat anxious" about Malbrunot, who has been working in Iraq since 9 August and who has not been reachable for two days. Validire said he thought Chesnot and Malbrunot may have tried to go to Najaf and were therefore unable to reach their editors.