Confusion over Iraq deal

Confusion surrounds the possible release of two female prisoners being held by the US authorities in Iraq.

The kidnappers of British hostage Kenneth Bigley are threatening to kill him unless the women are freed.

But, while the Iraqi authorities are indicating that one of the women - Rihab Taha - is to be freed, an American spokesman said neither of them would be released "imminently".

Iraqi judges are said to have ordered the release of three people being held by the Americans, including one of the women at the centre of the kidnap demands.

It is possible that they will not be freed for several days - possibly explaining the discrepancy between Iraqi and American statements.

The developments came amid the news that the body of American hostage Jack Hensley, 48, had been found. The terrorists, who on Monday beheaded another American, Eugene Armstrong, announced Mr Hensley's execution last night. They said that Mr Bigley, a 62-year-old civil engineer from Liverpool, would die next unless all women prisoners in Iraq were freed.

The release of Taha would appear to be an unprecedented surrender to one of the demands made by Mr Bigley's captors.

A senior Iraqi justice ministry official, who asked not to be named, said Taha's case had been under review, implying that her release would be a lucky coincidence.

"It is possible, God willing. Her case has been under review," he said. The Foreign Office, meanwhile, insisted that no deal had been struck with the terrorists and said the Government had been given no official indication that Taha would be released. "There is no question of any deal being done," said a spokesman. "We have no confirmation and nothing further to add at this stage."

The development came a day after Mr Bigley's son and brother went on television and begged Tony Blair to intervene to save his father's life. With candlelit vigils held all night in Liverpool where the family waited for news, Paul Bigley went on the Arab television channel Al-Jazeera to plead for his brother's life.

He said he hoped the message would get through to his brother's captors.

Mr Bigley said he had faith that MI6 had been working in the background and that although he had been critical of Mr Blair's policies, he described him as "a gentleman".

He added that his brother had both the stamina and bravery to get through his ordeal and while it had been " horrendous" for the family, they were determined to keep their cool.

A formal deal to save Mr Bigley looked unlikely. His captors are led by one of the most vicious and unpredictable Islamic terrorists, Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, who is believed to have personally decapitated other prisoners.

The group is not thought to be in contact with the authorities and neither Mr Blair nor the Iraqi interim government would want to be seen negotiating with him.

The British Government has also insisted that any deal with the group would simply encourage al-Qaeda to seize more Britons in future.

In a phone conversation with members of the Bigley family, Mr Blair told them there was only a "limited" amount the Government could do.

The kidnappers' original demand called for the release of female prisoners in Abu Ghraib and Umm Qasr jails.

But, confusingly, the US military said no women were held at those prisons but two female scientists including Taha were "in detention".

A US military official said the detention of so-called high value detainees was constantly under review. "There is a review process in place and it has been and continues to be employed," said Lieutenant Colonel Barry Johnson.

In America, Jake Haley, a spokesman for the Hensley family, told reporters outside their home in Georgia: "The family would like everyone to continue to pray for Kenneth Bigley, that he still may be returned home safely."

The Bigleys' MP, Peter Kilfoyle, a prominent Labour critic of the Iraq war, said it was time to consider whether to evacuate all Britons.

"At the very least, we ought to be looking now at whether British citizens should be in the country," he told the Radio 4's Today programme.

"Certainly, neither British forces nor American forces or Iraqi forces can now guarantee the safety of people we were told are essential to the reconstruction of Iraq." Mr Kilfoyle said the possibility that a prisoner was to be released provided "a glimmer of hope".