Renewed call for release of two journalists and their guide, now held for one month

Reporters Without Borders reiterated its call for the release of two French journalists and their Syrian guide today as they completed a month in captivity and said it was "extremely concerned" about the communique posted yesterday on the Islamic Army in Iraq's website saying the journalists are to be "tried." "Georges Malbrunot, Christian Chesnot and Mohammed Al-Joundi have been held for one month and every day that passes makes the wait more unbearable for their families and all those supporting them," the organisation said. "We renew our solemn appeal for the unconditional release of our three press colleagues and we urge everyone to stay mobilised," Reporters Without Borders said, stressing that, "the only mistake of Malbrunot and Chesnot was to have tried to do their job courageously and freely by going to gather information in the field." Yesterday's communiqué announcing plans to try the journalists said: "The Islamic Army's court will meet in the coming days and issue its verdict." It also said there will be "no more contacts or mediators." The French authorities have not said whether they think this communique or any of the earlier ones posted on this site are authentic. Reporters Without Borders concluded: "If this message and the one attacking France as an 'enemy of Islam' turn out to be authentic, then we should expect the situation to deteriorate." Reporters Without Borders continues to keep a vigil outside the Paris city hall where gigantic pictures of the three hostages are displayed. People can sign petitions for their release and leave messages of support at the site of the vigil, or by going to the press freedom organisation's website: (www.rsf.org). Malbrunot, 41, who was working as a special correspondent for Figaro, Ouest-France and RTL, and Chesnot, 38, a freelancer with RFI and Radio-France, were taken kidnapped on 20 August along with Al-Joundi, 49, as they were driving to the embattled city of Najaf, in southern Iraq. Responsibility for their abduction was claimed by the Islamic Army in Iraq, which has tried to use the possibility of their release for political blackmail.