Deadline on hostages is extended as jailed militant issues appeal

• Iraqi group holding British hostage extends deadline

• Foreign Office open to discussion but unwilling to meet demands

• Abu Qatada issues pleas for Kember's release from UK prison

Key quote

"Our overall position in respect of kidnapping has been made very clear already. These four men are all campaigners for peace, dedicated to the helping of others, and we ask for their release. The message of this latest statement is not clear. If the kidnappers want to get in touch, we want to hear what they have to say." - FOREIGN OFFICE

Story in full THE Iraqi group holding Briton Norman Kember last night extended by 48 hours its deadline for killing him and another three western hostages, as one of Britain's highest-profile Islamic extremists made a televised appeal from jail for the kidnapped men's release.

The militant group had threatened to kill the hostages today unless all prisoners in United States and Iraqi custody in Iraq are released - but extended the deadline until 10 December, the al-Jazeera television network reported.

The channel showed brief video footage of two hostages in orange jumpsuits, one of whom was identified as Mr Kember.

The previously unknown group - called variously the Swords of Truth or the Swords of Righteousness - was also reported to have sent a message to Britain saying it did not believe the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw, was serious in trying to secure the men's release, and was lying when he said he wanted to hear the group's message.

However, the statement added, in order to prove the group was serious, the deadline would be extended.

The Foreign Office last night responded: "Our overall position in respect of kidnapping has been made very clear already. These four men are all campaigners for peace, dedicated to the helping of others, and we ask for their release. The message of this latest statement is not clear. If the kidnappers want to get in touch, we want to hear what they have to say."

Earlier yesterday , Mr Straw had ruled out any move by the British government to meet the kidnappers' demands. He said they were demands which "no government could meet".

The developments came on the same day that a recording of Abu Qatada, who has been described by intelligence agencies as Osama bin Laden's ambassador in Europe, was broadcast in the Middle East appealing for the release of the men who were kidnapped in Baghdad last month.

In a highly unusual development, Qatada was allowed to record the appeal at Full Sutton high-security prison, near York.

British officials said the request to make an appeal came from Qatada himself.

The Prison Service gave permission and the tape was then distributed to satellite news stations in the Middle East.

Qatada, speaking in Arabic, appealed directly to the kidnappers, telling them he was their brother and adding: "I urge them to release the four prisoners in Iraq. This is a merciful act according to the principles of Islam."

The kidnappers' decision to extend the deadline for killing the hostages echoed similar tactics to the group which seized the Liverpudlian engineer Ken Bigley, on Thursday, 16 September, 2004.

That group, headed by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, initially threatened to kill Mr Bigley within 48 hours, but extended their deadline several times in what was seen as an attempt to encourage his family and the British public to call for the UK government to enter talks.

The government stood by its refusal to enter negotiations with terrorists organisations, releasing statements similar to that issued last night in response to Mr Kember's kidnappers. Mr Bigley's death was confirmed following the discovery of his remains on 3 October, 2004.

Prior to the news of the extension Mr Kember's wife, Pat, had also made a fresh appeal for his release. "We believe as he does that everyone should live in peace," she said.

"That is why Norman went to Iraq, because he wanted the Iraqi people to know that there are many people who are sorry for all their suffering."

On Tuesday, in a video issued by the kidnappers, Mr Kember was seen making a direct appeal to the Prime Minister to pull British troops out of Iraq.