- LONDON (Reuters) - Dental
records have proved that the body of a Western woman found in Iraq is not
that of hostage Margaret Hassan but London still thinks she is probably
dead, the Foreign Office says.
-
- "We still believe she is probably dead," a
Foreign Office spokesman said on Wednesday. "We are no further forward
in our conclusions."
-
- Hassan was kidnapped on October 19 as she was being driven
to work in Baghdad, where she was director of the local operation of aid
organisation Care International.
-
- A video released to Arabic news channel Al Jazeera last
month showed a hooded figure shooting a blindfolded woman in the head.
-
- Hassan's husband and Foreign Office officials have said
they believe the video tape is "probably genuine" and her family
has said they believe Margaret Hassan is dead.
-
- U.S. marines found the mutilated body of a Western woman
in Fallujah last month during an assault on rebels in the city but the
Foreign Office said dental records had proved the body not to be that of
Hassan.
-
- Irish-born Hassan, 59, moved to Iraq more than 30 years
ago after marrying an Iraqi engineer.
-
- Copyright © 2004 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited
without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable
for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance
thereon.
-
- http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsPackageArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&
storyID=631097§ion=news
|