France strives to free hostages
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Diplomatic efforts mount as a deadline nears for two French journalists held hostage in Iraq.
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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.
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French President Jacques Chirac has made new pleas for the freedom of two hostages on the 100th day of their captivity in Iraq. Chirac appealed to the captors to choose &quot;the
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France pressed on with efforts to save two French journalists held hostage in Iraq on Thursday after a deadline to rescind a law banning Muslim headscarves in state schools passed without word from the kidnappers.
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French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier made an impassioned plea to try to save the lives of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq as an ultimatum issued by their kidnappers neared expiry.
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Colombia took steps to free jailed rebel fighters on Friday, hoping to persuade guerrilla commanders to hand over hostages they have held for years, including a French-Colombian politician and three Americans.
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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's release.
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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.
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The two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq were still alive a few days ago and are likely to be freed, France&#39;s foreign minister said last night.
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PARIS - As France awaited word on two journalists being held hostage in Iraq, officials made clear that they expected to benefit from their stand against the US-led invasion and occupation.
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The French government's appeal set in motion a swell of solidarity unseen in previous hostage dramas in Iraq.
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Signs suggest hope for a possible release of the two French journalists held hostage in Iraq, Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said Saturday.
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France's government and leaders of its  Muslim minority urged Iraqi militants Sunday to free two French  journalists they were holding hostage in a bid to force Paris  to revoke its ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.
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A French law banning Islamic headscarves in schools came into force today as France intensified its diplomatic efforts to free two hostages held in Iraq by militants demanding the withdrawal of the new legislation.
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Hopes of a swift end to the French  hostage crisis rose early Friday, after the Le Figaro newspaper  that employs one of the two captives said the men were now  being held by Iraqi guerrillas willing to negotiate their  release.
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France said on Monday there were  indications that two French hostages held in Iraq will be freed  and a Muslim negotiator said talks over their release were in  the "delivery phase."
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French President Jacques Chirac said there was &quot;no reason&quot; to give up hope that two French journalists held hostage in Iraq since August will be released.