Possible Release of Iraq Scientist Raises British Hopes

[theski]

LIVERPOOL, England (Reuters) - News that a female weapons scientist might be freed in Iraq gave hope to the family of a British hostage on Wednesday, after his captors said they had beheaded the second of two Americans being held with him.

The Tawhid and Jihad group, led by al Qaeda ally Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, said on a Web site it had killed U.S contractor Jack Hensley on Tuesday after the passing of a 24-hour deadline for the United States to meet their demands.

That would leave British engineer Kenneth Bigley, 62, as the sole survivor of three Western workers abducted last Thursday. The group beheaded American Eugene Armstrong on Monday.

The kidnappers have said they would kill all three if women prisoners were not freed from Abu Ghraib and Umm Qasr jails, and Bigley's family has angrily accused Prime Minister Tony Blair of failing to take steps to secure his release.

The U.S. military has said no women are held at those prisons, and two female scientists at other locations are the only women in detention. Both Washington and London say they will not negotiate with kidnappers.

But a senior Iraqi justice ministry official said one of the women -- biological weapons scientist Rihab Taha, dubbed "Dr Germ" by her American captors -- might be freed as part of a scheduled review of her detention.

"It is possible, God willing. Her case has been under review," the Iraqi official said. A U.S. military spokesman in Iraq would not discuss specific cases, but confirmed that a review process was in place for "high value detainees."

Bigley's brother said the news that Taha might be freed had given the family hope.

"It's a point in the right direction, that's for sure. It's what these people have been asking for," Paul Bigley told BBC radio. "Of course you live in hope, of course you do. But you have to be realistic. I know the Middle East all too well."

After announcing it had killed Hensley, Zarqawi's group said Bigley would die next "if the British government does not do what must be done to release him." It set no new deadline.

I hope we do not cave...... That sets a very bad precident..

Reuters

[Admiral Valdemar]

I hear that the Iraqi authorities say this release has nothing to do with the hostage situation. Yes, it's just a very amazing coincidence.

There should be people out there after these guys, not negotiations.

[Chardok]

I hope we do cave.

*British soldiers meet terrorists at a bridge to make the exchange*
*Prisoners cross bridge at the same time, they all have their guns trained on each other*
*British guy arrives to jubilant british citizens and is carted away*

That's the british version.

*Terrorists watch with nervousness as the gagged man crosses the bridge, as the prisoner arrives on the other side, they see one of the british officers pull what appears to be a cell phone from his coat pocket, the terrorist gazes at the soldier, confused. Wondering why he is smiling so? He must be happy to see his compatriate (sp?). But...he is dialing....something...what if he's calling in an airstrike? Surely he wouldn't be that stupid....*

That would be his last thought as the exchanged prisoner erupts into a fine red mist of blood and flame, killing all of the terrorists and destroying their vehicles in the process.

The british officer turns to his now freed countryman and his soldiers, thumbs over his shoulder nonchalantly, "Look, mates, Martyr." Smiling as he gets into his Humvee, he congratulates himself on a job well done.