Minister makes TV appeal over Iraq hostage

Australia’s foreign minister went on Arabic TV to appeal for the release of an engineer kidnapped in Iraq, saying he has a serious heart condition.

Alexander Downer said he made the plea in an interview with the al-Jazeera network in New York after an Australian taskforce arrived in Baghdad to work for the release of Douglas Wood, 63.

Wood had been living in California with his American wife.

“I made the point in the interview with al-Jazeera that Douglas Wood is not a well man,” Downer told Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio in New York. “He has a very serious heart condition; he has a problem with one of his eyes as well.”

Prime minister John Howard has ruled out paying any ransom or meeting the militants’ demands to withdraw Australia troops from Iraq, but has said the government would do all it can to secure Wood’s freedom.

Wood’s nephew in the Australian capital Canberra, Nick Wood, said Australian relatives also hoped to release a videotaped statement appealing for his release.

David Edge and Jim Fidge, schoolfriends of Wood, said his family remained worried, but confident of the government’s actions.

“I spoke to one of the brothers yesterday and of course they’re very worried and upset by the whole thing,” Edge told the Seven Network television.

“But they have confidence in the government’s ... very quick reaction to the whole problem, so hopefully that will bear results.”

Fidge described Wood as easy going with a strong religious background.

A taskforce of Australian defence staff, police and diplomats arrived in Baghdad yesterday to try to secure Wood’s release with the help of the United Nations.

It is believed that Wood was kidnapped from his Baghdad apartment or on his way to work perhaps 48 hours before video footage showing him pleading for his life was released at the weekend.

“We’re making a very big effort to (get Wood out alive); so are our friends and allies and so are the Iraqis,” Downer said.