The family of Mr Kenneth Bigley (62), the British hostage held in Iraq and whose captors have threatened to behead him, made desperate appeals to his abductors yesterday to spare his life, write Arthur Beesley, Lynne O'Donnell, in London and Conor O'Clery, in New York
Emphasising his Irish background, they appealed to the Government to help secure his release.
Mr Bigley's 86-year-old mother Elizabeth, who lives in Liverpool but is originally from Ticknock, south Co Dublin, broke down crying as she urged his captors to show mercy. She was brought to hospital by ambulance shortly after the televised appeal last night.
"He is only a working man who wants to support his family," she said. "Please show mercy to Ken and send him home to me alive. His family needs him, and I need him."
Earlier, Mr Bigley's wife, Ms Sombat Bigley, spoke from her home in Thailand and pleaded with his kidnappers."My husband Ken is an ordinary, hard-working family man who wanted to help the people of Iraq, amongst whom he has made many friends. As a loving wife, I beg you once more for mercy."
Mr Bigley's brother, Paul, said yesterday he hoped his mother's Irish nationality could be used by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, to exert influence over his captors.
However, the Government said there was nothing it could do to intervene in a constructive way.
Mr Ahern said in a statement that the situation facing Mr Bigley and his family was deeply disturbing. "I am sure that the British authorities are doing everything in their power to secure the release of Mr Bigley. It is my sincere hope that those efforts prove successful."
There was a belief in official circles yesterday that there was little the Government could do to help Mr Bigley because he holds a British passport. "We've looked into the matter to see if there was any way we could intervene constructively, but there isn't," Mr Ahern's official spokeswoman said.
Separately, Labour TD Mr Michael D Higgins was interviewed on the Arab television channel Al- Jazeera television, and indicated his willingness to travel to Iraq on a fact-finding mission.
While Mr Bigley's captors demanded the release of Iraqi women prisoners as a condition of his release, Mr Higgins said he was willing to take part in an examination of the women's prisons.
The US and British governments and the leader of the interim Iraqi authority, Mr Iyad Allawi, were united again yesterday after a wobble earlier this week over the planned release of the Iraqi scientist Ms Rihab Taha.
An Iraqi official said that the US had agreed a week ago to her release and that it would go ahead in a few weeks but it did not want to do it now because it would be seen as surrender to the hostage-takers.
Mr Bigley's brother Paul, angered by the decision to delay her release, accused the US government of "sabotaging" moves to free his brother. He called on the UK and US to keep out of what should be an internal Iraqi affair.
British Prime Minister Mr Tony Blair contacted the family to express his sympathy, but reiterated the government's position it would not negotiate with terrorists.
In Washington, President Bush, and Mr Allawi presented a united front. Addressing a joint session of Congress, Mr Allawi said: "My friends, today we are better off. You are better off. And the world is better off without Saddam Hussein."
The plight of Mr Bigley was graphically illustrated earlier yesterday when his captors showed on the internet a video recording of a his own plea to live. Addressing his comments to Mr Blair, Mr Bigley said: "I need you to help me now Mr Blair... I don't deserve to die."