LIVERPOOL, England, Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Muslim and Christian religious leaders made a joint appeal Thursday for the release of a British man being held hostage in Iraq, CNN reported.
At a news conference in the hometown of Kenneth Bigley, who was kidnapped a week ago, Akbar Ali, chairman of the Liverpool Mosque and Islamic Institute, and James Jones, Liverpool's Anglican bishop, appealed for compassion and the 62-year-old man's release.
"In the name of God, the merciful one, we as Muslim and Christian leaders in Liverpool appeal to you as believers to have mercy on Kenneth Bigley," Ali said.
Two Americans abducted along with Bigley were decapitated this week, and the captors are threatening to do the same with Bigley if the United States does not release Iraqi women from prison.
An 11-minute video of Bigley pleading with British Prime Minister Tony Blair was released Wednesday, in which the sobbing man says: "You are the only person on God's earth who can help me."
Thursday, Bigley's brother Paul told the BBC the United States had "sabotaged" his brother's release by refusing to free the women.
