Plea for Frenchman held in Iraq

Mr Planche's brother and daughter saw no reason to hold him hostage

The family of a French water engineer abducted in Iraq three weeks ago has appealed for his release, in a video broadcast on Arabic satellite TV.

Bernard Planche's daughter and brother said he was in Iraq only to help its reconstruction and its people.

On Wednesday, the militants holding Mr Planche hostage threatened to kill him unless France ended its "illegitimate presence" in the country.

The French government has stressed it has no military presence in Iraq.

"Nothing can justify holding Bernard Planche in captivity. I appeal once again to the kidnappers for them to release our compatriot without delay," French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Thursday.

Video appeal

Mr Planche's daughter told al-Arabiya TV she too saw no reason to hold him hostage.

"He came to Iraq to help in its reconstruction and aid the Iraqi people," Isabelle Planche said.

"Please release him. He is my father, and I love him."

His brother, Gilles, called for Mr Planche's release "if only for the sake of his daughter".

Mr Planche was working for a small non-governmental organisation called AACCESS when he was abducted by gunmen from his home in Baghdad on 5 December.

A previously unknown militant group, the Brigade of Monitoring for Iraq, said it was responsible in the video released on Wednesday.

Mr Planche's abduction came 10 days after that of a German archaeologist, Susanne Osthoff, who has since been released.

The fate of a group of four Christian peace activists seized a day after her remains unknown.