UK: The family of kidnapped engineer Ken Bigley yesterday continued to put political pressure on Prime Minister Tony Blair, saying he could have done more to help.
As the 12th day of Mr Bigley's kidnap ordeal in Iraq approached and there was no further news about his welfare, his brother Paul said he appreciated people were working behind the scenes, but said that was "just not good enough". Speaking from the Netherlands, he said he thought the prime minister was a gentleman and statesman, but said his sell-by date has passed "and he has to go".
"He has not got the credibility to negotiate the sale of a bicycle," Mr Bigley said in an interview. "I want Ken home and the family wants Ken home. I truly believe that Ken is still alive."
He made clear he was not calling on the government to negotiate with terrorists, but needed to "open a dialogue".
The prime minister, however, received support from the leader of the Conservative Party, Mr Michael Howard, who said Mr Blair was in an "unenviable position". "I sympathise desperately with Ken Bigley and his family but we can't give in to terrorists," he said.
Mr Bigley's 86-year-old mother Lil is in a stable condition in a Liverpool hospital after being taken ill on Saturday for a second time since her son's kidnapping. British Foreign Minister Jack Straw spoke by telephone yesterday to Mr Bigley's Thai wife, who is in Thailand.- (Guardian Service)