Hassan family and Ahern appeal as new video released

MARGARET HASSAN’S sisters yesterday made an emotional appeal for the kidnapped Irish aid worker to be released after viewing a video of their sister in a disturbing new video.

Bertie Ahern expressed deep concern about the well-being of Mrs Hassan yesterday as he warned that "dangerous and serious time-scales" were mentioned in the latest video released by her kidnappers.

New video footage of the Irish-born hostage was received by Arabic television station Al Jazeera, but has not yet been shown as it was too disturbing. Mr Ahern said that time was of the essence After viewing the latest video, Mrs Hassan's sisters, Deirdre, Geraldine and Catherine Fitzsimons met with Mr Ahern at Government buildings and then made an emotional appeal to the kidnappers.

"Please don't hurt her," Deirdre Fitzsimons pleaded.

Fighting back the tears as she stood with Geraldine and Catherine, Deirdre Fitzsimons said their sister was an Iraqi and dedicated her life to helping Iraqis.

"Our sister is a friend of Iraq and we beg you to please let her to go home to her husband who loves her," she said.

Mrs Hassan, who heads operations in Iraq for CARE International, was kidnapped in Baghdad a fortnight ago.

Speaking of their anguish for the first time, Mrs Hassan's sisters stressed they had no influence over the British government's actions.

Also emphasising that Mrs Hassan had no political associations, Mr Ahern said she represented no one but the vulnerable and the poor and he made a direct appeal to the kidnappers.

"Your quarrel is not with Margaret Hassan, nor is it with the Irish people who have been a firm friend of the Arab nation," he said.

The new video shows Mrs Hassan crying and pleading for help as she is subjected to severe mental and physical pressure.

Dressed in what appears to be the same clothes as in the original footage released 10 days ago, she faints to the floor at one point and then has a bucket of water thrown over her head.

It also shows a captor citing elements of the Koran in Arabic.

Mr Ahern was joined in his renewed appeal for Mrs Hassan's safe release by opposition leaders. Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny said it was now opportune to focus on Mrs Hassan's Irishness as well as her Iraqi nationality.

Labour leader Pat Rabbitte said he spoke as the leader of a party that had long opposed what he said was the illegal war in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Afghan officials are optimistic that three UN hostages, including Annetta Flanigan, from Richill, Co Armagh, will be freed unharmed.

A Taliban splinter group claims it abducted the trio Ms Flanigan, Filipino diplomat Angelito Nayan and Kosovan Shqipe Habibi in the Afghan capital last week and is threatening to kill them unless the United Nations and British troops leave Afghanistan.