Briefly: Journalist's family pleads for her release
International Herald Tribune
FEBRUARY 21, 2006
Agence France-Presse

BOSTON

Journalist's family pleads for her release

The family of an American journalist being held in Iraq issued a new appeal for her release Tuesday, a week before a deadline set by her abductors for their demands to be met or they will kill her.

The appeal on behalf of Jill Carroll also asked for the release of two Iraqi journalists who were kidnapped this month. Carroll's father, Jim, issued the one-minute audio message, which was released by a media group, Reporters Without Borders.

Carroll was reporting from Iraq for the Christian Science Monitor when she was kidnapped on Jan. 7. A group calling itself the Revenge Brigades has demanded the release of all Iraqi women held in U.S. military and Iraqi jails. (AP)

JOHANNESBURG

Aristide plans to end exile 'soon as possible'

The exiled leader of Haiti, Jean Bertrand Aristide, said Tuesday that he planned to return to his country "as soon as possible."

Aristide, 52, has been living in exile in South Africa after fleeing the Caribbean state in 2004 amid a popular revolt. The former president said he would consult with President-elect René Préval, his one- time protégé, the United Nations and "other countries" before choosing a date for his return. (AFP)

KUALA LUMPUR

Malaysia money links to Abramoff denied

Mahathir Mohamad, the former prime minister of Malaysia, has asserted that an American lobbyist, Jack Abramoff, was paid $1.2 million to set up a meeting between him and President George W. Bush in 2002, but he denied the money came from the Malaysian government.

Mahathir told reporters Monday that he was aware the payment was made to Abramoff, but that he did not know who made it. The Los Angeles Times reported last week that Abramoff received $1.2 million from the Malaysian government for his lobbying services in 2001 and 2002. Mahathir visited the White House at a time when Malaysia had emerged as a key U.S. ally in the war on terror. (AP)

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