Islamic militants in Iraq have handed over two French hostages to another guerrilla group opposed to their kidnap and murder, the editor of one of the reporters held captive said Thursday.
As hopes rose that Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot could be released as soon as Friday, the Muslim day of prayer, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier told reporters he understood the pair were “alive and getting good treatment.”
Le Figaro editor Jean de Belot said on France Info radio: “The latest information is that Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot have been handed over by the Islamic Army in Iraq to an Iraqi Sunni guerrilla group… an opposition that we know for a few days now has been in favor of the release of the hostages.”
The opposition guerrilla group now holding the men, seized by the Islamic Army in Iraq on Aug. 20, has in recent days come out in favor of the men’s release, he added.
“Some people are talking of their release this night, others talk of tomorrow morning … but until the good news has actually arrived, we cannot allow ourselves to be absolutely reassured.”
The new mood of optimism, tempered by the announcement by Iraqi militants that they had killed three Turkish captives, was reflected in comments by French Muslim leaders who flew to the region to help secure the journalists’ freedom.
Mohamed Bechari, vice president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith, told reporters the French Muslim delegation was “optimistic and confident (the hostages) will be released soon.”