IRAQ: An Iraqi group that freed two Italian hostages last week are trying to buy British hostage Mr Kenneth Bigley from his captors in the first step towards securing his release.
Contact was made between the two groups of insurgents on Saturday, a Kuwaiti newspaper editor, who is in touch with the group, said.
"It's too early to express a time frame, but if things go smoothly we will get a better idea tomorrow of when Mr Bigley will be released," said Mr Jassim Bodai, editor of al-Rai al-Aam.
Mr Bodai said he was in direct contact with the group, which did not want to reveal its name.
Last week his paper revealed that a ransom of up to one $1 million was paid to secure the release of two Italian aid workers Ms Simona Pari and Ms Simona Toretta - a charge that has not been fully denied by the Italian officials.
The group would work for Mr Bigley's release in return for money, said Mr Bodai.
He said he did not think the group was in contact with the Bigley family.
"It's a local Iraqi resistance group. They're only fighting against the American occupation.
"They don't want to kill Iraqis or foreign civilians. But they're very short of financial resources," said Mr Bodai. He also said that Zarqawi's Tawhid and Jihad group, currently holding Mr Bigley, was also strapped for cash after months of funding attacks on Coalition targets.
"We need to play things very cautiously," said Mr Bodai.
"Bigley is held by the worst group in Iraq. But they need money. So long as the American forces don't get involved in the negotiations a deal is possible."
Mr Bigley was captured from his home in a wealthy Baghdad suburb over two weeks along with two American collegues, Mr Eugene Armstrong and Mr Jack Hensley.
The two Americans were beheaded within a few days and grisly videos posted on an Islamic website.
Mr Bigley has subsequently made two video pleas to British Primie Minister Mr Tony Blair to intervene and save his life, raising hopes that the Briton is still alive.