France hopeful over fate of kidnapped journalists

The French government met for crisis talks today over the fate of two hostages in Iraq, but said their release was still possible and that discretion and patience are needed.

Foreign minister Michel Barnier reported to President Jacques Chirac on his week-long visit to the Middle East, which garnered widespread condemnation from religious and political leaders there of the kidnapping of reporters Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot.