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| Iraq-Jordan | ||
| Sheik 'has seen only footage' | ||
| 2005-06-06 | ||
| A LEADING Muslim cleric has contradicted reports he has seen Douglas Wood in the flesh, saying he has seen only footage of the Australian hostage indicating he is alive. The Sheik is full of shiite
Asked if had met Mr Wood during his latest mission to Iraq, the Egyptian-born cleric said he had seen only footage of the captive, which he had passed on to Australian authorities. "He looked normal and said 'I am OK, I am fine' and that he needs help from his family and the Government," Sheik al-Hilaly said. His comments came a day after a senior Muslim leader in Australia claimed Sheik al-Hilaly had said he had seen Wood "eye to eye". Ikebal Patel, from the Federation of Islamic Councils, said he had spoken with Sheik al-Hilaly in a brief mobile phone conversation, and the mufti had confirmed he had seen Mr Wood. "He said to me 'I've seen him eye to eye', those were the words he used, eye to eye, it was Douglas," Mr Patel told Channel 7. "What we do know is he is alive, the mufti's words is: 'He is okay under the circumstance, he is well', and the aim is to now try and get him out of there ASAP, to try get him the urgent medical attention that is required. "Medication has been given to him, so that is very welcome news." But as news of the sheik's comments spread, another of his spokesmen revealed the latest development should not have been made public. The spokesman in Sydney, Keysar Trad, said the sheik had feared negotiations to win Mr Wood's freedom could suffer if the information was widely circulated.
"Sometimes these matters becoming public can hinder the efforts rather than help them, and the mufti is quite concerned about the number of statements that have gone public in relation to this matter." Mr Trad confirmed that Sheik al-Hilaly had been able to provide evidence to satisfy Australia's negotiating team in Iraq that Mr Wood was still alive. "He has been able to provide proof to the negotiating team that Mr Wood is alive," he said, but did not elaborate. "And now it's just a matter of everyone co-operating together." Mr Wood, 63, was abducted in Baghdad in late April and on May 1, a militant group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahideen of Iraq released a DVD showing him begging for his life. He pleaded with Australia to withdraw its troops from Iraq and save his life, but the federal Government said it would not bow to the demands of terrorists. Mr Wood's family had reacted with cautious optimism to Sheikh al-Hilaly's reported sighting. "The family is pleased that the mufti is continuing his efforts in Baghdad," a spokesman for the family said. "Anything that he can do towards helping Douglas get released is most welcome." Foreign Minister Alexander Downer did not comment on Sheikh al-Hilaly's claim that he had seen Mr Wood, except to say the cleric was making a good contribution. He said Australia's specialised hostage crisis team, which has been operating in Iraq since a few days after news of Mr Wood's abduction, was working hard to secure his release. "My only comment about it would be that we remain very determined in our drive to get him released and we are still working very hard at it," Mr Downer said. Meanwhile, the federal Opposition has warned against provocative commentary on Iraq policy, which it says may jeopardise efforts to release Mr Wood. | ||
| Posted by:Spavirt Pheng6042 |
| #2 Jeeez the truth is like dark matter to these gents, it's obviously out there but we can't see it. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-06-06 10:12 |
| #1 The Sheik is full of shiite Don't think I could have said it better myself. Although, couldn't the Sheik just bullshit us from his Mosque in Sydney? I'm sure the press would travel the extra distance to get the story. Being the biggest |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2005-06-06 07:48 |