BAGHDAD, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- British hostage in Iraq Kenneth Bigley made a fresh plea Wednesday to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to work on securing his release.
In a videotape broadcast on al-Jazeera television Bigley accused Blair of not undertaking any efforts to press for the release of Iraqi women prisoners held by U.S. forces, a demand made by his kidnappers to spare his life.
"There is no progress and no negotiations to save my life," Bigley said in the tape in which he appeared chained and sitting in a cage.
"There are also no negotiations to end the humiliation to which the Iraqi women prisoners are being exposed ... Tony Blair is lying when he says he is negotiating he is in fact not negotiating at all," Bigley said as he looked disheveled and worn out.
"Please ... Please Mr. Blair help me and help Iraqi mothers ... I beg you to speak for me and to press on others to help me ... You say that you don't deal with terrorists but the French are dealing with these people to secure the release of their hostages," Bigley added.
A group calling itself the Jihad and Tawheed claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of Bigley and two Americans who already have been beheaded.
