France to negotiate for Iraq hostages

PARIS, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- The French foreign minister was expected Sunday to begin negotiations for the release of two journalists taken hostage in Iraq.

President Jacques Chirac confirmed Sunday he had sent Michel Barnier to Egypt to bring about the reporters' release from the Islamic Army in Iraq, Aljazeera.net reported.

The group has demanded Paris end its ban on headscarves in state schools by Monday evening

"Everything has been done and everything will be done in the hours and days to come to make sure that happens," Chirac said in a televised address.

Barnier hopes to negotiate the release of Radio France Internationale correspondent Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot of Le Figaro newspaper, who went missing nine days ago.