France skeptical of new conditions for release of hostages
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The captors of two French journalists allegedly put forward new demands for their release, but French officials cast doubt on the authenticity of the demands and remained cautiously optimistic about securing their release.
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France says two journalists captured in Iraq are thought to be alive but there is no news on other captives.
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French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said he was still hopeful two French reporters held hostage in Iraq would be freed, adding that &quot;lines of dialogue&quot; had been opened with those detaining them.
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France on Monday vowed not to yield to Islamic militants holding two journalists hostage in Iraq, pledging to implement a ban on headscarves in state schools this week despite threats by the kidnappers.
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France was torn between hope and doubt  about its two hostages in Iraq on Wednesday after a purported  French negotiator announced their imminent release but  officials insisted they knew nothing about his efforts.
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France remains cautiously optimistic about the possible release of two journalists held hostage in Iraq, a government spokesman said Wednesday after a ministerial meeting on the crisis.
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AMMAN, Jordan -- Hopes that the two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq could be freed soon rise following reports they have been transferred to guerrillas willing to negotiate their release.
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France has said it is confident that two journalists held hostage in Iraq will be released, despite continuing uncertainty about their fate.
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France says it has stepped up its efforts to free two French journalists being held hostage by Iraqi militants who are demanding an end to a ban on Islamic headscarves in French schools.
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The French government and opposition  declared a rare united front on Thursday in efforts to secure  the release of two French hostages held in Iraq.
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France redoubled its diplomatic efforts on Tuesday to save two French reporters held hostage in Iraq ahead of a new deadline to scrap a school headscarf ban, as the Islamic militant group Hamas called for the men&#39;s release.
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The French Government has held crisis talks on the fate of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq amid growing uncertainty over whether their kidnappers have demanded a ransom.
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A French Muslim delegation in Iraq trying to win the release of two French journalists held hostage by Islamic militants said Thursday they had received proof the men were alive and well. The kidnappers have demanded that Paris rescind a law banning Muslim headscarves.
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France has criticized unofficial negotiators for complicating release efforts for two French hostages held in Iraq, the BBC reported Saturday.
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Experts on Islamic militant groups are skeptical about a Web posting demanding $5 million in ransom for two French journalists held hostage in Iraq, France's prime minister said Monday.
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The kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq has injected new tension into France&#39;s debate over banning Islamic headscarves in schools just as Paris was hoping for a smooth start to the school year this week.
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An anxious French government accelerated its diplomatic bid to save two French reporters held hostage in Iraq on Tuesday as a fresh kidnapper deadline neared for Paris to scrap a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.