Michael D Higgins offers to aid hostage freedom bid

An Irish politician today offered to travel to Iraq to campaign for the safe release of British hostage Kenneth Bigley.

Veteran Labour Party member Michael D Higgins, who gave an interview to the al-Jazeera television station, said he was willing to check the status of women in Iraqi prisons.

“I remain available to be of assistance in any way,” he said.

Mr Higgins said the fact that Mr Bigley was entitled to an Irish passport through his Dublin-born mother, Lil, gave him a slim hope.

“I said on al-Jazeera that nothing could be solved by the taking of his life and that the Irish had not supported the war in Iraq.”

He gave the interview to the Arab television station after he was contacted by Mr Bigley’s brother, Paul.

“He’s trying to make use of every thin opportunity that he has and let us hope something comes of it.”

The 63-year-old politician criticised the British government for its insistence that it would not contact the hostage-takers.

“Issuing blind statements that they would never negotiate with terrorists are simply inconsistent with the historical process.

“Is that not the experience of the British government with every stage leading up to the Good Friday Agreement? Has it not been their practice going as far back as Kenya?”

Mr Higgins, who unsuccessfully attempted to get a nomination from his party for the forthcoming presidential election, has a strong interest in human rights issues.