LAT/AP: Deadline Passes With No Word of Reporter (Jill Carroll)

[DeepModem Mom]

Deadline Passes With No Word of Reporter
By PAUL GARWOOD, Associated Press Writer


BAGHDAD, Iraq -- U.S. negotiators were working around the clock to secure the release of hostage American journalist Jill Carroll as a deadline set by militants threatening to kill her passed Friday with no word on her fate.

Muslims from Baghdad to Paris urged the militants to free the 28-year-old woman and end Iraq's wave of kidnappings. More than 240 foreigners have been taken captive and at least 39 killed since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein....

***

No hour was specified, and there was no indication if any prisoners had been released. But the U.S. military confirmed Friday that it has nine Iraqi women in its detention facilities on suspicion of terror-related activities.

"We don't comment on whether Iraqi female or male detainees are in the process of being released," U.S. military spokesman Lt. Col. Barry Johnson said. "Of course we understand the cultural sensitivities in detaining females and pay particular attention to assessing their files."

Iraq's deputy justice minister, Busho Ibrahim Ali, visited the women Friday and said six of them -- three from Baghdad, and one each from Mosul, Kirkuk and Tal Afar -- would be freed next week....


http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/wire/ats-ap_top10jan20,0,3004624.story

[hang a left]

1. Read this a little earlier...

sending positive thoughts

[benEzra]

2. Still on edge about this...

praying for her and her family as well...

The Christian Science Monitor (the paper she works for) has an excellent page devoted to her, with regular updates:

http://www.csmonitor.com/2006/0113/carroll_update.html

Last update was at 12:45 today, though.