OMEN
08-26-2006, 12:44 PM
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HELPING HAND: Rev Jesse Jackson plans to travel to the Middle East to protect the rights of captured Kiwi Olaf Wiig and his Fox News colleague
WASHINGTON: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has said he plans to travel to the Middle East to protect the rights of two kidnapped Fox News journalists, including New Zealander Olaf Wiig, and others taken prisoner during the recent conflict in Lebanon.
Jackson told Reuters he would also lead a group of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders to shore up the cease-fire in Lebanon and ensure humanitarian aid was administered properly.
"We're appealing for the cease-fire to continue and to address the humanitarian crisis and we want to know the status of all the people in prison, all of them," Jackson said in a telephone interview.
Jackson, a former Democratic Party presidential candidate, has travelled several times as an independent statesman to win the release of US prisoners abroad, securing the freedom of a captured pilot from Syria in 1983 and 22 Americans being held in Cuba the following year.
Jackson said he would visit Syria first, where he is to meet President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, and then travel to Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday before travelling to Israel.
He said he had tried to go to the region during the height of the fighting but had been unable to get in.
"Now there is a window and we are organizing a humanitarian mission," he said.
A previously unknown group in Gaza calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades has captured two Fox News journalists and given the United States until midday on Saturday to free Muslim prisoners or the captives would face unspecified consequences.
Jackson said he would also work to ensure Jewish soldiers captured by Hizbollah and Palestinian prisoners were treated humanely and released.
"We hope all sides can see the value of reconciliation and ending the course of contention," he said.
Reuters
HELPING HAND: Rev Jesse Jackson plans to travel to the Middle East to protect the rights of captured Kiwi Olaf Wiig and his Fox News colleague
WASHINGTON: Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson has said he plans to travel to the Middle East to protect the rights of two kidnapped Fox News journalists, including New Zealander Olaf Wiig, and others taken prisoner during the recent conflict in Lebanon.
Jackson told Reuters he would also lead a group of Jewish, Muslim and Christian leaders to shore up the cease-fire in Lebanon and ensure humanitarian aid was administered properly.
"We're appealing for the cease-fire to continue and to address the humanitarian crisis and we want to know the status of all the people in prison, all of them," Jackson said in a telephone interview.
Jackson, a former Democratic Party presidential candidate, has travelled several times as an independent statesman to win the release of US prisoners abroad, securing the freedom of a captured pilot from Syria in 1983 and 22 Americans being held in Cuba the following year.
Jackson said he would visit Syria first, where he is to meet President Bashar al-Assad on Monday, and then travel to Lebanon on Tuesday and Wednesday before travelling to Israel.
He said he had tried to go to the region during the height of the fighting but had been unable to get in.
"Now there is a window and we are organizing a humanitarian mission," he said.
A previously unknown group in Gaza calling itself the Holy Jihad Brigades has captured two Fox News journalists and given the United States until midday on Saturday to free Muslim prisoners or the captives would face unspecified consequences.
Jackson said he would also work to ensure Jewish soldiers captured by Hizbollah and Palestinian prisoners were treated humanely and released.
"We hope all sides can see the value of reconciliation and ending the course of contention," he said.
Reuters