French Journalists Released from Captivity in Iraq

Two French journalists, Georges Malbrunot, 41, and Christian Chesnot, 38, were released from four months of captivity last week by their Iraqi captors--members of the insurgent group 'Islamic Army in Iraq'. Malbrunot, who writes for the conservative French newspaper Le Figaro, says that his captors wanted GWBush to win the U.S. Presidential election because they knew he would keep troops in Iraq, and that would help their cause.

Both men say that they saw some other hostages who they learned were later decapitated. The Islamic Army reportedly has 15,000-17,000 members, and their hostage-taking activities are very well organized. Some members are designated for planning, others for the kidnapping, and still others for interrogation or execution squads. According to the journalists, the Islamic Army sees four groups as its enemies--the U.S. and coalition military forces, foreign businessmen whom they consider collaborators of the military occupation, Iraqi police forces, and foreign and Iraqi spies.

Why the two journalists were set free while so many other hostages have been executed is unclear, but both men say that they were in fear for their lives throughout most of the four months of their captivities.