WAR: Chirac urges unity on French hostages , page 1

posted on Oct, 5 2004 @ 08:18 AM

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FRENCH President Jacques Chirac, after a botched 'unofficial' rescue attempt of two French reporters is calling for French national unity.
Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot were taken hostage on August 20
by a group calling itself the 'Islamic Army in Iraq'.

www.news.com.au
"During this ordeal, the strength of our action lies in the cohesion of the entire country," Mr Chirac told his ministers before leaving on an Asian tour, according to government spokesman Jean-Francois Cope.

"The safety of our compatriots and their release are our only objectives. I call on everyone to assume their responsibilities," Mr Chirac was quoted as saying.

But two left-leaning dailies, Le Monde and Liberation, printed investigations in their editions today suggesting the government was aware of "Operation Julia" since its inception in September.

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Chirac' statement seems somewhat confusing, for want of a better term.

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sanctum

posted on Oct, 5 2004 @ 08:52 AM

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France has hostages video

The video, believed to have been recorded September 22, showed journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot "alive and in good health", Bernard Accoyer, the parliamentary leader of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, said.

Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin showed the cassette during a meeting earlier in the day with the leaders of France's main political parties dedicated to the hostage crisis.

www.news.com.au...

sanctum

posted on Oct, 5 2004 @ 01:45 PM

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France calls crisis talks over Iraq hostages farce

"It's bordering on the ridiculous. French diplomacy has been humiliated," said Segolene Royal, a Socialist regional leader.

Her remarks broke an unspoken agreement under which the opposition had refrained from criticising the government over its handling of the crisis since the hostages were seized by a group called the Islamic Army in Iraq on Aug. 20.

www.nzherald.co.nz...

Sanc'.