French Hostages Said Alive, Headscarf Ban Enforced
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BAGHDAD/PARIS  - A French Muslim delegation in  Iraq said Thursday they had proof that two French hostages held  by Islamic militants were alive, even though France refused to  lift a ban on Muslim headscarves as the school year began.
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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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President Jacques Chirac has vowed to spare no effort to free two French reporters held hostage in Iraq by militants who are reportedly demanding that France overturn its law banning Islamic head scarves in ...
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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 will maintain its ban on Muslim scarves and other signs of religious belief in state schools, ignoring demands by the Iraqi kidnappers of two French reporters, government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope said.
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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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Islamic militants released a brief tape showing two French journalists kidnapped recently in Iraq, saying they were holding the men to protest a French law banning headscarves in schools, according to footage aired Saturday by Al-Jazeera TV station.
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France's foreign minister says he "understands" two Israeli soldiers kidnapped in Lebanon last year are alive.
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Two French journalists in Iraq have been kidnapped by Islamic militants who say they are protesting against the French government&#39;s ban on wearing the hijab in schools.
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France vowed Monday to press ahead with a controversial law banning Islamic head scarves in schools, despite demands by militants holding two French journalists hostage in Iraq that Paris revoke the ...
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The French government has indicated that it intends to stand firm on its decision to ban the wearing of headscarves by Muslim girls in state schools.
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An Iraqi militant group has kidnapped two  Frenchmen and given the French government 48 hours to end a ban  on Muslim headscarves, Arabic television station Al Jazeera  said Saturday.
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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.
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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
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PARIS: France has pledged not to yield to Iraqi kidnappers who have taken two journalists hostage and are demanding the repeal of a law banning Islamic headscarves in state schools.
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PARIS - France vowed Monday to press ahead with a controversial law banning Islamic head scarves in schools, despite demands by militants holding two French journalists hostage in Iraq that Paris revoke the legislation.    Government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope told Canal Plus television France would not compromise its values to win the release of the journalists, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot...
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The kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq has injected new tension into France's debate over banning Islamic headscarves in schools just as Paris was hoping for a smooth start to the school year this week.