Britain 'can't meet demands of Iraqi kidnappers'

Foreign Secretary Jack Straw today said the government cannot meet the demands of Iraqi kidnappers holding Briton Norman Kember, two Canadians and an American.

Mr Kember, of London, was taken hostage in Baghdad last week, along with American Tom Fox and the Canadians James Loney and Harmeet Singh Sooden.

The four members of the Christian Peacemaker Teams were seized by the previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigade.

The kidnappers have reportedly threatened to kill the hostages if Iraqi prisoners are not released from US and Iraqi jails by tomorrow.

“It’s a desperate situation for Mr. Kember and the fellow hostages and their families. We’ve had no contact (with the kidnappers), but we are obviously aware of their so-called demands. These are demands which ..... no government could meet,” Straw said on arrival at a meeting of EU foreign ministers.

“If hostage takers have anything ... to say to the UK government or other governments, we’re always ready to listen,” he added.