Kidnappers Extend Deadline
Kidnappers threatening to kill four Western peace activists unless all Iraqi detainees are freed have extended their deadline until Saturday.
The group, which calls itself the Swords of Righteousness, originally set today as the deadline. The extension was announced in a statement that accompanied a video released Wednesday showing two shackled prisoners, said Al Jazeera television and IntelCenter, a government contractor that does support work for the U.S. intelligence community.
Norman Kember, 74, of London, Tom Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Va., and Canadians James Loney, 41, and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, were taken hostage in Baghdad two weeks ago.
They were working for Christian Peacemaker Teams, an antiwar group. Another American, a German and a Frenchman also have been abducted recently.
On Wednesday, a brother identified the second American captive as Ronald Schulz, 40, of Alaska.
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
