Hostage Hassan makes plea in new video

The kidnapped Irish director of CARE International today made another plea for Britain to withdraw troops from Iraq and asked for the aid organisation to close its offices in the country.

In a video shown on Al-Jazeera, a frightened and weary-looking Margaret Hassan, 59, also asked for the release of all Iraqi female detainees.

“Please don’t bring the soldiers to Baghdad… Please, on top of that, please release the women prisoners from prisons,” she said

In the tape, a clearly distraught Hassan spoke directly into the camera, blinking back tears. She wore a black T-shirt. In a previous tape, she sported a white top.

Hassan was kidnapped on her way to work in Baghdad a week ago. No group has claimed responsibility.

Britain began redeploying some 800 troops toward the Baghdad area today, in a move aimed at freeing up US forces for an assault on insurgents areas north and west of the capital.