Iraq Hostage Crisis Unites France Behind Law
497812
French critics and defenders of a ban on  Muslim headscarves in schools united in support of the law on  Monday, pledging to stand firm against militants holding two  French journalists hostage in Iraq who want the law revoked.
400992
PARIS - President Jacques Chirac vowed Sunday to spare no effort to free two French journalists held hostage in Iraq by militants reportedly demanding that France revoke its law banning Islamic head scarves in schools.   "The whole nation is gathered together because what's at stake is the lives of two French people, the defense of freedom of expression, and also the values of our Republic," Chirac said in a televised address...
232579
Paris - The operation to secure the release of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq was an exclusively French affair, France&#39;s defence minister insisted on Thursday.
464088
France said on Sunday two French reporters held hostage with their Syrian driver in Iraq were still alive a few days ago. &quot;We are working discreetly, following up leads, reestablishing
765209
The French government Sunday scrambled to develop a response to kidnappers who grabbed two French journalists in Iraq, demanding Paris revoke a law banning Islamic head scarves in public schools. There was no sign France would capitulate.
495740
France will not revoke a law banning Muslim head scarves in public schools despite demands by a militant Islamic group holding two French journalists hostage in Iraq, the government spokesman said Monday.
675753
PARIS - Millions of French students returned to school Thursday as a new law that bans Islamic head scarves from classrooms went into effect amid demands by Islamic radicals holding two French hostages in Iraq that the law be scrapped.    Muslim leaders in France, who had largely opposed the law, urged calm for the return to class...
438089
France has scrambled to secure the freedom of two French journalists kidnapped by Iraqi militants who gave Paris until Monday evening to drop its controversial ban on Muslim headscarves in schools.
457795
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.
587327
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.
700868
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.
512991
After the joy, the recriminations. France's mood of national euphoria following the release of its two journalist hostages in Iraq gave way to an unseasonal public slanging match yesterday between the ...
28974
PARIS, Oct 4  - A French MP behind a failed bid to free two French reporters held hostage in Iraq defended his freelance operation Monday amid sharp official and media criticism that he may have endangered their lives.
640868
BAGHDAD, Iraq - France said it had received word that two French reporters seized in Iraq were alive, and one of their employers claimed the kidnappers had handed them over to an Iraqi opposition group, raising hopes the hostages could soon be released.    Separately, two U.S...
286078
DUBAI/PARIS  - The French government held crisis  talks on the fate of two French journalists held hostage in  Iraq Wednesday amid growing uncertainty over whether their  kidnappers had demanded a ransom and two-day deadline.
750029
PARIS -- It was easier for 16-year-old Nadia Arabi to remove her Islamic head scarf yesterday than to defy a new law banning religious signs in the classroom, or to risk contempt for breaking a national chain of solidarity for two Frenchmen held hostage by militants in Iraq.
99260
The two French journalists, who have been held hostage for 4 months in Iraq, have been freed. French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin made the announcement to the Senate who responded to the news with applause.