The Sudanese woman imprisoned for refusing to reject Christianity has said she was resolved to keep her faith even if it meant death.

An audio tape purportedly by America’s most-wanted insurgent in Iraq, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, posted today on the internet threatens more attacks against US forces and urges followers to be wary of any American attempts at dialogue.

French envoys are to hold crisis talks in Iraq and Jordan today in a desperate bid to free two journalists seized by militants seeking to overturn France’s law banning Islamic head scarves in public schools.