US pledges assitance in release of Australian hostage

AM - Tuesday, 3 May , 2005 08:08:00

Reporter: Michael Vincent

TONY EASTLEY: In Washington, the Bush administration has already said it will provide every
"assistance possible" to secure the release of Douglas Wood.

Michael Vincent reports.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Bob Callahan is the Chief Spokesman for the US State Department in Baghdad. He has
this message for the brothers and family of Douglas Wood:

BOB CALLAHAN: Well, I can assure them that a lot of experienced, talented and dedicated people,
both American and Australian and for that matter an Iraqi special crimes unit are involved with
this and doing everything possible.

I can also say that we have had some successes in the past. I certainly wouldn't at this stage
abandon hope. We won't rest until we've succeeded in securing his release.

MICHAEL VINCENT: Help is also being offered from a very different source.

Paul Bigley's brother, Ken, was killed by his kidnappers in Iraq last year after being held for
three-and-a-half weeks.

Mr Bigley says he didn't want to keep quiet as suggested by the UK Foreign Office and he's told
Lateline that Mr Wood's family should go on Arabic TV and talk to his captors.

PAUL BIGLEY: They have to open the dialogue through Al Jazeera and plead and put their case in that
way, at least they will get the attention of these bullies, and if... they may just... it may be a
financial situation.

Hopefully... I hope it's not a political thing like Ken's people who kidnapped him. But you have to
be patient, you have to be strong, and you have to fight, you have to fight. Don't just sit there
in the living room crying and listening to the liaison officer who's sitting there pouring your tea
out for you. One of you have to get up and fight.

MICHAEL VINCENT: What options the Australian Emergency Response Team has to negotiate for Mr Wood's
release are not being canvassed publicly by anyone in the security community in Baghdad.

AM spoke to half a dozen security company personnel either in Iraq or with recent experience there.
Each repeats the same code of silence on hostage negotiation.

That any discussion about who Mr Wood is, why he was taken, or by whom he was taken will simply
play into the hands of the kidnappers, prolong his captivity and ultimately jeopardise his life.

TONY EASTLEY: Michael Vincent reporting.