The militant group holding Irish-born aid worker Ms Margaret Hassan in Iraq has threatened to turn her over to a group led by al-Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, Al Jazeera reported last night.
Zarqawi's group, al-Qaeda Organisation of Holy War in Iraq, is blamed for the bloodiest suicide attacks and hostage beheadings in Iraq.
Al Jazeera said it received a video tape from the group saying it would hand over Ms Hassan to Zarqawi's group within 48 hours "if Britain does not meet its demands, mainly for the withdrawal of British troops from Iraq".
The Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, yesterday warned of "dangerous and serious timescales" mentioned in the new video by the kidnappers. He told the Dáil that Al Jazeera was given the film but decided not to broadcast it on humanitarian grounds.
It is understood it shows 59-year-old Ms Hassan pleading for her life directly to camera before suddenly fainting. A bucket of water is then believed to have been thrown over her head and she is filmed lying wet and helpless on the ground before getting up and crying.
Mr Ahern said he had seen the text of the video and described it as "distressing". He said: "There were a number of very dangerous and very serious timescales stated."
Earlier the Taoiseach has made another direct appeal to the militant group to free her. Mr Ahern said Ms Hassan, who was kidnapped two weeks ago, was an aid worker who only had the interests of the Iraqi people at heart.
"Through her humanitarian work, she has helped countless numbers of Iraqis," he said. "She has worked tirelessly and selflessly on their behalf."
Mr Ahern said the family of Ms Hassan had "endured enormous distress" since her capture two weeks ago. "I cannot imagine the trauma that Margaret herself has experienced."
Speaking after a meeting with members of Ms Hassan's family at Government Buildings yesteday, Mr Ahern appealed for her to be freed immediately, saying she was an innocent victim of the war in Iraq.
The kidnapped woman's sister, Ms Deirdre Fitzsimons, also pleaded for her release. "We have listened to your demands and begged Tony Blair and the British government to release the women prisoners also not to move the troops," she said. "But we are Irish, and we have no influence on the British government."
Ms Hassan was born in Dublin but grew up in Britain. She is married to an Iraqi, has spent 30 years in the country working for CARE International. The charity announced last week it was ceasing operations in the country.
She was kidnapped on her way to work in Baghdad on October 19th, less than two weeks after British hostage Kenneth Bigley was beheaded by al-Zarqawi's group. The US has offered a $25 million reward for Zarqawi's capture or killing - the same amount as for Osama bin Laden.
CARE International said today it was distressed by the latest video released by her captors in Iraq and called for her release.
Al Jazeera broadcast a statement from the Taoiseach last month appealing for the release of Ms Hassan. The statement was shown hours after the station broadcast a video of a distressed Ms Hassan pleading for help from the British people to save her life.
Fine Gael leader Mr Enda Kenny said time was of the essence in this case and time may be short.
Labour's Foreign Affairs spokesman, Mr Michael D. Higgins appealed for her release, saying "I make this appeal as one of those who has opposed the war in Iraw, and who opposed the sanctions that preceded it."
"To those holding her, I say again: the many friends of the Iraqi people ask you to realise the uniqueness of Margaret Hassan's position, to recognise her work over the decades, to accept that it is the Iraqi people who have benefited from her work, and in the worst of times, and that ti is they who lose by her being detained," he said.