Female Iraqi prisoners will not be freed

WITH time running out for British hostage Kenneth Bigley, US and Iraqi officials said last night they would not free female Iraqi prisoners as demanded by an al-Qaida ally whose group has already beheaded two Americans.

Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi said his government had begun reviewing the status of its detainees, including the two female scientists known as ‘Dr Germ’ and ‘Mrs Anthrax’ for their involvement in Saddam Hussein’s biological weapons programs.

But Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari said his government would not cave in to the demands of the captors.