French official counsels 'patience, discretion' over hostages in Iraq
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A senior French official called here for patience and discretion as efforts continued to secure the release of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq.
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Confusion surrounded the fate of two  French journalists held hostage in Iraq on Thursday after a new  purported statement from the kidnappers denied they had  demanded a $5 million ransom or set a 48-hour deadline.
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TIRANA, Sept 7  - French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said on Tuesday he was convinced it was still possible to secure the release of two French journalists who have been held hostage in Iraq since August 20.
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DAMASCUS, Oct 1  - A Frenchman presenting himself as an unofficial negotiator said on Friday that he was with two French reporters being held hostage in Iraq, raising hopes that the men may soon be freed.
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The French foreign minister was expected Sunday to begin negotiations for the release of two journalists taken hostage in Iraq.
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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 reacted coolly on  Wednesday to a claim by a self-styled mediator that two French  journalists kidnapped in Iraq could be released soon.
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France says two unofficial mediators seeking to free two journalists kidnapped in Iraq are hindering official efforts.
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PARIS  -- As hopes dimmed that two French journalists held captive in Iraq would be freed soon, French President Jacques Chirac was to discuss the crisis Sunday with his foreign minister, who returned from a mission to the Middle East with no news of
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BAGHDAD, SEPTEMBER 8: The French government held crisis talks on the fate of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq on Wednesday amid growing uncertainty over whether their kidnappers had demanded a ransom and two-day deadline.
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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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Hopes for a speedy release of two French hostages in Iraq gave way to expressions of doubt and concern Tuesday after a statement setting out new demands for their release was posted on a Web site.
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The French government says it is cautiously confident two journalists kidnapped in Iraq will soon be released.
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Two French journalists held hostage in  Iraq could be freed by the end of this week if U.S. forces open  a security corridor to secure their release, an aide to a  French mediator told Reuters on Wednesday.
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French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin met ministers for a crisis meeting on two French journalists held hostage in Iraq on Monday as efforts to secure their release threatened to turn into a fiasco.
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French President Jacques Chirac has sent his Foreign Minister to the Middle East to try to secure the release of two journalists who are being held hostage in Iraq.
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Unexpected difficulties appeared to have stalled the hoped-for release of two French journalists in Iraq, with a girlfriend of one of the hostages blaming the precarious security situation for the delay.