Iraq Hostage Crisis Unites France Behind Law
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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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President Jacques Chirac called for national unity on Tuesday over France's hostage crisis in Iraq, after a bid by self-appointed mediators failed to free two journalists held by Islamist militants.
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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.
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Two French journalists taken hostage in Iraq are believed to be alive and safe, France&#39;s defence minister has said. But Sunni Muslim clerics in Iraq say efforts to free them are being hampered by the escalation of security operations led by US forces.
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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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French officials gathered for crisis talks Tuesday to save the lives of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq, while aides to rebel Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr called for the release of the reporters as a deadline set by militants
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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.
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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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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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PARIS  - 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, a government spokesman said Monday.
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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.
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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.
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journalists held in Iraq by militants demanding France end its ban on Muslim headscarves in schools. &quot;Backed up by this national unity, I solemnly call for the release of Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot.
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France will not revoke a law banning Islamic head scarves in public schools despite demands by an Iraqi group holding two French journalists hostage, the government spokesman said Monday.
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The whole country is uniting to secure the release of the hostages and support their families in this ordeal.
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The French government held a crisis meeting on Thursday over the fate of two journalists held hostage in Iraq after a new purported statement from the kidnappers denied they had demanded a ransom or set a deadline.
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French ministers have been holding emergency meetings to discuss how to respond to the kidnapping of two French journalists in Iraq.