IRAQ: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGHDAD/ MEETS WITH IRAQI PM IYAD ALLAWI
Record ID:
222788
IRAQ: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGHDAD/ MEETS WITH IRAQI PM IYAD ALLAWI
- Title: IRAQ: BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY JACK STRAW MAKES SURPRISE VISIT TO BAGHDAD/ MEETS WITH IRAQI PM IYAD ALLAWI
- Date: 5th October 2004
- Summary: (W6) BAGHDAD, IRAQ (OCTOBER 5, 2004) (REUTERS) 1. SLV: BRITISH FOREIGN MINISTER, JACK STRAW, OUTSIDE PRIME MINISTER IYAD ALLAWI'S OFFICE, NEAR CAR 0.05 2. STRAW SHAKES HANDS WITH HAMID BAYATI, IRAQI DEPUTY FOREIGN MINISTER 0.11 3. IYAD ALLAWI WAITING FOR STRAW WHO WALKS IN/ HANDSHAKE/ THEY WALK DOWN CORRIDOR INTO ROOM 0.50 4. VARIOUS OF ALLAWI AND STRAW AND BAYATI AND DELEGATION SITTING DOWN 0.57 5. STRAW TALKING 1.02 6. ALLAWI TALKING 1.07 7. WS: STRAW AND ALLAWI AND DELEGATION TALKING 1.13 8. BAYATI AND OTHERS SITTING 1.19 9. DELEGATION 1.25 10. STRAW AND ALLAWI SITTING AND TALKING 1.32 11. SCU; STRAW 1.39 12. BRITISH AMBASSADOR TO BAGHDAD, EDWARD CHAPLIN, SITTING 1.44 13. TILT/CU: EXTERIOR: SIGN READING AMBASSADOR'S OFFICE (2 SHOTS) 1.55 14. SLV: OFFICE DOOR 1.59 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 20th October 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: BAGHDAD, IRAQ
- Country: Iraq
- Reuters ID: LVA2W11BC4QJYY1BGEOARETTYAGZ
- Story Text: British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw arrives on a
surprise visit to Iraq.
British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw, on a surprise
visit to Iraq, said on Tuesday (October 5) violence must
not upset plans to hold nationwide elections.
Straw said his trip had been long planned and was not
directly connected to efforts for the release of
62-year-old British engineer Ken Bigley, kidnapped in
Baghdad on September 16.
Britain has vowed not to bargain with the kidnappers,
Islamic militants led by Jordanian Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.
They have already beheaded two Americans seized with the
Briton.
The son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi said he was
using his charity foundation contacts in Iraq to help free
Bigley. He said he believed the next 48 hours would be
critical.
A taped appeal to the kidnappers from Bigley's
86-year-old mother Lil has been played repeatedly on Iraqi
radio.
During Straw's visit to Iraq he met with interim Iraqi
Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and Iraqi Deputy Foreign
Minister Hamid Bayati.
The visit coincides with a bloody trial of strength
between insurgents and U.S.-Iraqi forces trying to stop
them from sabotaging the planned elections.
Rampant insecurity has raised questions about whether
the polls can go ahead, Allawi again pledged to hold them
on time.
- Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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