Kidnapped reporter appeals for release

The US journalist Jill Carroll, weeping and veiled, appeared on a new videotape aired on Monday by Al-Jazeera. The Arab television station said she appealed for the release of all Iraqi women prisoners. The video was dated Saturday 8212; two days after the US military released five Iraqi women.

Carroll 28, was crying and wore a conservative Islamic veil as she spoke to the camera. The Al-Jazeera newscaster said she appealed for US and Iraqi authorities to free all women prisoners to help 8216;8216;in winning her release8217;8217;. The US military released the women last Thursday and was believed be holding about six more. It was unclear how many women were held by Iraqi authorities.

Carroll, a freelance reporter for the Christian Science Monitor, was seized January 7 by the previously unknown Revenge Brigades, which threatened to kill her unless all women prisoners were released. Al-Jazeera did not report any deadline or threat to kill her Monday.

Al-Jazeera editor Yasser Thabit said the station received the tape on Monday and that it was between two to three minutes long, but only a fraction of the footage was telecast. In a statement, the Monitor again appealed for her release.