Sunday, December 25 2005 17:52 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: Iraqi newspapers today (Dec 25, 2005) published an appeal by families for the release of four Western hostages, including Indo-Canadian Harmeet Singh Sooden, after the kidnappers of a Jordanian issued an ultimatum demanding the release of a woman would-be suicide bomber arrested in Amman.

"Our dear ones have been kidnapped. They are all working as activists for the sake of peace and to aid the Iraqi people," read the appeal by families of four Christian aid workers kidnapped in Baghdad on November 26.

"A number of religious figures in the Arab and Islamic world have talked about the noble work which they are doing for the sake of Iraq and called for their immediate release. We also appeal for their safe return to us."

"If you have any information that could help us, please call the phone number and it is not necessary to reveal your identity," said the appeal carried by Iraqi newspapers both yesterday (Dec 24,2005)and today.

The families of Sooden, 32, Briton Norman Kember, 74, Canadian James Loney, 41, and and American Tom Fox, 54, all from the Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), were also expected to make a radio appeal tomorrow (Dec 26,2005).

Meanwhile, the kidnappers of a Jordanian driver yesterday gave Amman authorities a three-day ultimatum for his release, according to a video broadcast on the Al-Arabiya satellite channel.

The hostage, a driver for the Jordanian ambassador to Iraq, was snatched in southern Baghdad on Tuesday and was shown in the video surrounded by three armed men wearing masks.