Calls for speedy release of Rory Carroll

Irish and British politicians tonight called for the speedy release of Dublin journalist Rory Carroll who is believed to have been kidnapped while reporting for The Guardian newspaper in Baghdad.

Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Dermot Ahern spoke to Irish embassy officials in Tehran and Cairo and is also liaising with the British Foreign Office.

The minister’s spokesman added: “Mr Ahern is being briefed on a minute-by-minute basis and closely monitoring the unfolding situation.”

Earlier, Mr Ahern spoke by telephone to Carroll’s father, Joe, and to senior editors at The Guardian newspaper.

A year ago, Mr Ahern personally intervened in the kidnap of Ken Bigley when he issued an Irish passport to convince his captors of his Irish citizenship.

Northern Ireland Secretary Peter Hain said the British government would assist in any way it could, if asked, to help free the Dublin-born journalist.

“We will do whatever the Irish Government asks us to do, because of course he is an Irish citizen,” Mr Hain said.

“He may have been working for a British paper but he’s an Irish citizen. We will give what help we can but only whatever Dublin wants us to do.”

The MP said it was a very serious case but stressed that Carroll should be considered an Irish national.

“He is an Irish citizen and although we are on the ground and may be able to help, it is very important that people out in Iraq, and maybe including those people responsible for this terrible abduction, understand that he is an Irish citizen, albeit working for a British newspaper,” he told RTE Radio.

“Therefore the Irish Government is the one that will be in the lead on this.”

Irish Enterprise Minister Micheál Martin said: “We would appeal to those who kidnapped Rory to release him as soon as possible. We will obviously be monitoring the situation very closely.”

Labour party TD and international affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins called on the Irish Government to urge everybody with influence in Iraq to help bring about Carroll’s release.

“It should be made immediately clear that Mr Carroll is a professional carrying out his task of reporting objectively on the Middle East, something he has done with fairness and distinction to date,” he said.