Solana roept Iraakse gijzelnemers tot vrijlaten Franse journalisten (en)

The EU's foreign policy chief has called for the release of two French journalists being held hostage in Iraq.

"I have conveyed all my solidarity and my full support to the French authorities who are at this very moment making all necessary efforts to obtain the release of Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot", said Javier Solana in a statement.

The two journalists, who work for Radio France Internationale and Le Figaro respectively, were taken hostage on Saturday (28 August) by a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq.

The kidnappers issued a 48-hour deadline to the French government demanding that it lift its ban on the wearing of Muslim headscarves in French schools.

This deadline has been extended by 24 hours, Arabic TV station al-Jazeera reported.

The French government has refused to accede to the kidnappers' demands.

French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, during a whirlwind tour of the Middle-East on Monday, said "I call for their release in the name of principles of humanity and respect for the human being which are at the very heart of the message of Islam and the religious practices of Muslims".

The law, which was passed in February, bans the wearing of conspicuous religious apparel in schools and comes into effect when school re-starts this week.

France's secular government has tried to portray the ban as non-denominational, as Jewish skullcaps and Christian crosses will also be banned, however many French Muslims have perceived it as specifically targeted at Islam.

On Monday, thousands of French citizens demonstrated to show their solidarity with the two journalists.

French media report that people are wondering why citizens from France have been targeted when Paris was so strongly opposed to the US-led war in Iraq.