Blair has ‘signed her death warrant’

A CLOSE friend of Irish-born hostage Margaret Hassan said the sight of her crying on the kidnapper’s video was “really bad” because she was a woman who was frightened of nothing.

Film-maker Felicity Arbuthnot, told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “She is a very tough lady and if she is crying on this video - I haven’t been able to steel myself to look at it yet - that is really bad, because this is a woman who is frightened of nothing.”

Ms Arbuthnot accused the Prime Minister of “signing (Ms Hassan’s) death warrant” with his comments about her kidnap.

On Tuesday, following the broadcast of the first video of her in captivity, Mr Blair told reporters: “This is someone who has lived in Iraq for 30 years, someone who is immensely respected, someone who is doing their level best to help the country.

“I think it shows you the type of people we are up against.

“We will do whatever we can, obviously,” said Mr Blair.

The following day, he made similar comments in the House of Commons.

Ms Arbuthnot said Mr Blair had effectively linked Ms Hassan in the kidnappers’ minds with the British Government, and had made it less likely that she would be able to take advantage of her birthplace in Dublin or her Iraqi nationality to help secure her freedom.

“When Tony Blair stood up ... and said ‘we can see now what kind of people we are dealing with’, he slagged off the kidnappers,” she said.

“They have her life in their hands, those people. You don’t wind them up.

“And then he connected her to the British Government, when she had actually sent a briefing to Parliament and said what would happen if we invaded Iraq and was right in every way.

“I just thought he had signed her death warrant.

“The one thing you do in hostage negotiations is to keep absolutely quiet and walk on eggshells. Britain and America are the most hated people in the Middle East, while Ireland is highly regarded. You don’t just jump into a situation like this which is so delicate.”