BUCHAREST, Romania (Reuters) — Romanian authorities believe three Romanian journalists kidnapped in Iraq are still alive a day after the deadline for their execution expired, a source close to the Romanian authorities said on Thursday.
Romania had appealed to the abductors to extend a Wednesday 1600 GMT deadline by which they would kill the three unless the staunch U.S. ally withdrew its 800 soldiers from Iraq.
The government has not said whether it would pull out despite increasing public pressure and calls by the opposition to save Prima TV reporter Marie Jeanne Ion, 32, cameraman Sorin Miscoci, 30, and Romania Libera daily journalist Ovidiu Ohanesian, 37.
“The three are alive and Romanian authorities have asked for the early release of Marie Jeanne Ion, hoping for sensitivity because she is a woman,” a source close to the Romanian authorities involved in solving the crisis told Reuters.
The Romanian presidency has taken over efforts to free the three reporters and their guide, who were snatched in Baghdad on March 28 while on a short reporting trip.
After weeks of silence, the kidnappers set a Tuesday deadline for their execution unless Romania pulled out of Iraq but extended it by one day at the last minute.
Romanian authorities then asked for another extension and appealed to the Muslim Clerics Association — a Sunni Muslim body in Iraq, which has previously mediated in the release of hostages — to help free the three.
Hundreds of people have been gathering daily at the central Bucharest University Square and in towns around the country to show support for the hostages. On Wednesday evening, after the deadline expired, they lit a sea of candles in the square.
“If this is what it takes to save their lives, then the soldiers should be pulled out,” said Elena Noian, 47, an insurance agent, wearing a picture of the three on her shirt.
More than 70 percent of Romanians think the troops should come home to save the journalists’ lives and the opposition ex-communist PSD party, which sent the soldiers to Iraq, has asked for a gradual withdrawal.
The U.S. embassy in Bucharest said on Wednesday Romanian troops in Iraq are helping the “global war on terror”.
“We firmly believe that Romania’s national interests and our own are identical on this matter. Together we are helping to make the world a freer and safer place,” it said in a statement.
A Romanian pullout would be a further blow to U.S. efforts to persuade as many allies as possible to contribute troops to Iraq. Italy, Bulgaria, Poland and Ukraine are already looking at reducing their presence there.
The hostages have been shown in video aired by Al Jazeera television sitting handcuffed on the floor guarded by armed masked men, looking haggard and distressed.
Their guide, Muhamad Munaf, who has U.S., Iraqi and Romanian citizenship, appealed to President George W. Bush for help.
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