UK Muslims seek hostage's release

Terry Waite was greeted by Mr Bigley's two brothers

Two members of the Muslim Council of Britain have landed in Kuwait en route to the Iraqi capital to press for the release of British hostage Ken Bigley.

Dr Daud Abdullah and Dr Musharraf Hussain will urge Muslim leaders to put pressure on the kidnappers.

The council's secretary general, Iqbal Sacranie, said even in this "dire situation" they still had to have hope.

Jack Straw has telephoned Mrs Bigley in Thailand and former Beirut hostage Terry Waite is visiting his UK family.

We believe we are well placed - perhaps better placed than others - to convey our concerns Dr Daud Abdullah Muslim Council of Britain 'Trusted' officials make plea

Mr Bigley, a 62-year-old civil engineer from Liverpool, was captured at gunpoint in Baghdad on 16 September with two American colleagues.

The two Americans have both since been beheaded by their captors.

The Foreign Office has confirmed that the foreign secretary telephoned Mrs Bigley in Thailand on Saturday morning.

No details of their conversation have been given, but it is thought Mr Straw would have explained to Mrs Bigley through an interpreter the measures the government is taking to secure her husband's release.

There has been no word on the engineer since he was seen pleading for his life in a video posted on a militant-linked website on Wednesday.

One of Baghdad's main newspapers carried a front-page advert from Mr Bigley's family asking for help.

'Completely destroyed'

The two envoys said they hoped to meet Islamic scholars and other well-placed Iraqis in Baghdad.

Mr Sacranie, speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Saturday, said: "I am convinced the message will be conveyed to whoever these people are who are holding Ken.

Hostage coverage debated

"It is a matter of convincing them (the hostage takers) that no atrocious act can be done in the name of Islam."

Dr Abdullah said the trip was a "humanitarian" effort.

"We believe we are well placed - perhaps better placed than others - to convey our concerns and the concerns and the grief of the family and their wishes for his release."

Dr Hussain is the imam of Bobbers Mill Mosque and the head teacher at the Nottingham Islamia School.

His son Atif said his family was worried he was risking his life, but "we all hope for the best and something comes out of this and he does help in the release of Mr Bigley."

The Muslim community here cannot be held responsible for atrocities committed by terrorists anywhere in the world Baroness Pola Uddin

However, the BBC's Karen Allen, in Baghdad, said the delegation had themselves warned against pinning too much hope on the mission.

Speaking on BBC News 24 on Saturday, Labour peer Baroness Pola Uddin said she was "sceptical" of what she described as "a knee-jerk reaction" to the situation.

"The Muslim Council of Britain is not recognised as an authority, even in this country", she said, adding that she did not think Iraqis were "going to recognise their authority."

'Injustice and torture'

Palestinian prisoner Mahmoud Abu Rideh, being held in Britain under terrorism legislation, has joined appeals for Mr Bigley's release.

The Independent newspaper carries an interview by Mr Abu Rideh, also known as Abu Rasmi, in which he said he knew what it was like to suffer "injustice and torture".

An appeal from Mr Bigley's 86-year-old mother Lil, made in the family's home city of Liverpool, was broadcast on Al-Jazeera, the Arabic television channel, earlier this week.

The leaflet carried a personal appeal from Ken Bigley's family

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The British Embassy in the Iraqi capital has also distributed 50,000 leaflets appealing for Mr Bigley's release.

The kidnappers from the Tawhid and Jihad Group, led by al-Qaeda suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, have threatened to murder him unless the UK and US release all women held in Iraqi jails.

Britain has ruled out any negotiations with the kidnappers and Mr Straw is coming under fire in his own constituency for his handling of the crisis.