Wall Street Journal issues open letter to kidnappers

The managing editor of the Wall Street Journal has issued an open letter to the group he believes is responsible for kidnapping US reporter Daniel Pearl.

Paul Steiger, the Journal's managing editor, has asked the group to open a private dialogue.

He addressed the letter to the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty.

That organisation puts its name to the first email sent on January 27 claiming to have abducted Mr Pearl, who disappeared four days earlier.

Attached to the document were photographs of the journalist - one with a gun pointed at his head and another with him holding a newspaper dated January 27.

That communication demanded that Washington return Pakistani prisoners held at the US naval base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for trial in Pakistan. The Bush administration has ruled out any negotiations.

"I know that the National Movement for the Restoration of Pakistani Sovereignty is very serious and wants others to know about its movement. To assure that this happens it is important for you to respond to this message," Mr Steiger's letter said.

A number of groups have been named by Pakistani authorities as possible suspects in the kidnapping.

"I have not heard from you for several days and want to begin a dialogue that will address your concerns and bring about Danny's safe release," Mr Steiger's letter said.

"Since your last email I have received numerous emails from people who claim that they are holding Danny. Because of these claims, it has become difficult for me to know that I am communicating with the people holding Danny. These individuals have caused a great deal of confusion."