Bertie Ahern to make hostage appeal on Arab TV

The Taoiseach, Bertie Ahearn is to appear on Al Jazeera television this evening to appeal for the release of the latest hostage in Iraq.

A video of Margaret Hassan has this afternoon been shown on the Arab satellite station.

In it, the Dublin-born charity aid worker pleads to the British people to help her.

She has urged British Prime Minister Tony Blair to withdraw UK troops from Iraq and not to bring them to Baghdad.

Meanwhile a statement has been issued by the Islamic Cultural Centre of Ireland demanding Mrs Hassan's release.

It denounces the kidnapping and killing of civilians in Iraq which it has said are damaging the cause of resistance to US and British occupation of the country.