Wife pleads for hostage's release

The wife of British hostage Ken Bigley today pleaded tearfully for his life, the first time she has spoken publicly since he was seized a week ago.

Sombat Bigley, 42, begged his captors in Iraq: "I pray for your mercy and beg you to release him.

My husband is an ordinary, hardworking family man who wanted to help the people of Iraq, among whom he has made many friends.

"As a loving wife, I beg you for mercy." She said she had seen a video released by the kidnappers, showing her 62-year-old husband sobbing and begging Tony Blair to help save his life.

She told the terrorists: "We have been married seven years and I love him very much. I desperately want to be reunited with my husband. I beg you to release Ken so that I may be with him again." Her appeal - in a statement read out in her native Thailand - came as Mr Bigley's brother attacked the US government for "sabotaging" moves to free him.

His criticism came hours after the footage of civil engineer Mr Bigley's own plea was released. Two Americans kidnapped in Baghdad with him have already been beheaded, their murders videoed and posted on the internet.