MIDDLE EAST: The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Dermot Ahern, said the Government was prepared to send an Irish delegation to Iraq if advised that this would help to secure the release of Ms Margaret Hassan, the Irish-born aid worker based in Baghdad who has been kidnapped by persons unknown.
The chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Mr Yasser Arafat, was expected to issue a statement last night appealing for the release of Ms Hassan. This was announced by the Palestinian Foreign Minister, Dr Nabil Shaath, during a joint press conference with Mr Ahern at the Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin yesterday.
The foreign ministers issued a joint statement appealing for the release of Ms Hassan. Mr Ahern read the English version and Dr Shaath the Arabic text. Film of their appeals was expected to be broadcast in the Arab world shortly afterwards.
Dr Shaath said he had no information as yet about the identity of the kidnappers and had asked his Irish hosts if they knew anything. Mr Ahern said that, so far, "no contact has been made with anyone on the ground". All the Government could do was make contact with people "who have influence in that part of the world".