Show Al AI shows video of kidnapped American reporter Soloman Moore Los Angeles Times A tearful Jill Carroll appeared in a video aired by the Al- Al satellite channel Monday and according to the network the American journalist made a plea for the release of all fem female detainees IJ in Iraq a The images rag s. s j of f her Pher were w'S the rm r 2 C- C r T fJ rr-r rr r I first to be t br-t broadcast since a a hown 10 heri Jan 7 kidnapping Looking wan and distraught Carroll spoke tearfully into the camera though most of what she said was unintelligible In the video Carroll was wearing a white veil and appeared before an ornamental red and yellow background The video was dated Saturday Dave Cook foreign editor of the Christian Science Monitor for which Carroll had been working on a freelance basis said the publication was still inthe iIi in the midst of trying to determine whether it is legitimate and what are its contents A US U.S. official who works closely with the Hostage Working Group a team of US U.S. investigators and negotiators from intelligence and law enforcement agencies said the group was attempting to confirm the date of the video and determine determine determine deter deter- mine whether it held any clues to Carrolls Carroll's whereabouts Carroll disappeared earlier this month after attempting to interview an Iraqi politician in r. r Baghdad On Jail J Jar 17 J l-J l i Tit It broadcast bro a a silent dea of f Carroll speaking into the c era In that video Carroll wore a high-collared high gray or white sweatshirt She appeared to be exhausted and her eyes seemed to shut involuntarily as she spoke impassively The comer corner of the screen was marked with the caption Brigades of Vengeance The latest video comes amid amida a surge in abductions in Iraq Last week the kidnappers of four Western peace activists released a new video of their captives and on Friday two German Gennan engi- engi AI Al Cont on Page 4 AI Al Cont Cant from Page 2 captured in northern Iraq pleaded for their lives on a video broadcast by AI Al Also kidnapped were two Kenyan engineers though no video was released of them The two disappeared after a Jan 18 ambush in Baghdad The US U.S. official who requested request request- ed anonymity because he is not allowed to speak to the media said he could not be sure that Carroll was still alive The official said that the Hostage Working Group was actively pursuing leads and questioning questioning questioning ques ques- sources that might lead to Carrolls Carroll's rescue or release Were working these things all the time the official said This is all we do A source with extensive knowledge knowledge knowledge knowl knowl- edge of the working group said the secretive team is staffed by FBI officials and at times includes National Security Agency and the Central Intelligence Agency staffers The team is closely monitored monitored monitored mon mon- by US U.S. Ambassador to Iraq The source who spoke on condition condition condition con con- of anonymity said the team uses each abduction investigation to add to a detailed database of informants and kidnapping net net- works Prior patterns have helped the group determine how some criminal organizations arc are linked to insurgent groups The US U.S. official acknowledged acknowledged acknowledged edged that the team also uses electronic surveillance techniques to track kidnappers Once investigators determine who is behind a kidnapping and the motivation they arc are better able to respond to demands or negotiate through media campaigns campaigns campaigns cam cam- or by sending messages through informant networks They try to get the message across that they might have something something something some some- thing more to gain by keeping her alive than by killing her the source said At the same time you are trying to find out whether a rescue or release is possible The US U.S. official credited Iraqi informants for most hostage releases or rescues |