BAGHDAD (AP) – An Arabic Web site says a deal is in the works for the release of five British hostages in Iraq and that one of them could be freed “very soon.”
The Saudi-owned site Elaph quotes a leader of the extremist Asaib Ahl al-Haq group as saying a video recently sent to the British embassy showing one of the hostages is part of the deal.
The report quotes a mediator identified only as Abu Ali. A senior aide to Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki acknowledged Saturday that contacts are under way to release the Britons, but denied a deal had been struck. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the press.
A senior Shiite lawmaker says the contacts picked up pace two months ago.
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