France Criticizes Freelance Moves to Free Hostages
348439
France criticized two self-appointed mediators Saturday for interfering in efforts to secure the release of two French hostages in Iraq.
10690
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.
693506
French President Jacques Chirac slammed Saturday a private initiative to secure the release of two French hostages in Iraq as "interference", while the freelance effort appeared to have flopped.
726819
French media and authorities expressed anger on Sunday at an unofficial mission to free two French journalists taken hostage in Iraq more than six weeks ago, which came up empty-handed after promising imminent success.
19601
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.
753355
BAGHDAD/PARIS  - France said Friday two French  hostages held in Iraq were being well treated but there were  hurdles to overcome to secure their release.
524757
French government officials called for the release of two journalists kidnapped in Iraq by a group demanding that France rescind a ban on Islamic headscarves in the nation&#39;s schools, Agence
203007
A French parliamentary deputy heading an unofficial and widely criticized operation to free two French journalists held by Islamic militants in Iraq said Monday that contact had been lost with the kidnappers.
748442
PARIS, Sept 29  - Paris on Wednesday remained tight-lipped about the fate of two French journalists abducted over a month ago in Iraq following the release of up to 10 hostages there, including two Italian female aid workers.
544956
Two French journalists have been taken hostage in Iraq by Islamic militants demanding the rescinding of a ban on the Islamic headscarf in French schools, the Arabic satellite news channel Al-Jazeera reported.
518168
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.
462635
The two Italian hostages recently released by captors in Iraq have stirred anger among some with their criticism of the country's participation in the war.
695563
PARIS French Muslims are not blaming their government for the recent kidnapping of two journalists in Iraq. The Islamic militants who seized the reporters two weeks ago are demanding that France repeal its ban on headscarves in schools.
129771
French President Jacques Chirac has lashed out at a private initiative to secure the release of two French hostages in Iraq as &quot;interference&quot; and said he hoped it would not thwart the delicate process, aides said.
371742
BAGHDAD, Aug 29  - For the first time since the kidnappings of foreigners started in Iraq in April, hostage takers have set conditions external to the country by demanding that France lift a ban on Islamic headscarves in state schools.
153888
Russian newspapers question the government's ability to tackle terrorism, while in France, there is hope two kidnapped journalists could soon be freed.
753743
French secret service agents on Thursday  debriefed two French journalists after their release from a  four-month hostage ordeal in Iraq, as a political storm raged  over a botched freelance attempt to free the men.