Blair refuses to bow to demands despite pleas

THE British and Iraqi governments said yesterday they would not bow to the demands of militants threatening to kill a British hostage, despite a video message from the captive pleading for his life.

The kidnappers say they will behead Kenneth Bigley unless all Iraqi women are freed from US-run jails.

After a day of confusion on Wednesday over whether one of two Iraqi women in US custody would be freed, the interim Iraqi government said in a statement that Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was not willing to allow her release.