Mother of Iraq captive lashes out

It is believed Ms Aubenas was forced to call for Mr Julia's help

The mother of a French journalist held captive in Iraq has lashed out against squabbling between France's government departments trying to have her freed.

Jacqueline Aubenas told French radio she did not want her daughter to become a "hostage" to their "war of factions".

Florence Aubenas is believed to have been kidnapped along with her interpreter in Baghdad on 5 January.

French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin made the first appeal for her immediate release.

In a videotape released this week by her captors, the Liberation newspaper reporter is seen asking for the help of maverick French MP Didier Julia.

'Outrage'

Mr Julia has come under fire for his failed attempt last year to obtain unilaterally the release French reporters Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot.

Ms Aubenas' apparent appeal for his help has brought him back momentarily into the fold, although the French government has insisted that negotiations go through official channels.

Her mother, Jacqueline Aubenas, told radio station France Info: "Mr Julia or no Mr Julia, I don't care.

"I want Florence to be freed and I don't want her to become hostage in the war of factions, power, egos and secrets, and squabbling between services. I'm outraged, really."

Jacqueline Aubenas was told her daughter's captors were "Saddamists"

She said the videotape showing her daughter appealing for Mr Julia's help was "incomprehensible."

"It's clear that it is not she who is talking, she is speaking under coercion," she said.

On Friday, she met an Iraqi ministerial delegation in the Brussels senate, who said they thought the captors were Saddam Hussein sympathisers.

"We believe that those who captured Florence are Saddamists and that they have contacts in France," said Iraqi Human Rights Minister, Bakhtiar Amin.

Meanwhile, following an emergency meeting with political leaders, Mr Raffarin demanded that the kidnappers dealt only with French officials.

"I want to tell the captors, if they can hear me, that France is calling for the speedy release" of Florence Aubenas and her Iraqi guide, Hussein Hanoun al-Saadi.

"If her captors want to engage in talks, they must go through official French services only," he added.