French govt urges media to exercise caution over kidnap video

AFP - The French government on Sunday asked media outlets to exercise "discretion" in their use of a video of French television reporters pleading for their release after being kidnapped in Afghanistan.

Agence France-Presse (AFP) obtained the video, apparently taken three weeks ago, but decided not to publicise it because the agency believed it might compromise the chances of the France 3 television reporters being released.

The video showed the two men, looking tired and unshaven, saying they were in good health and were being treated well by their captors. They called on French President Nicolas Sarkozy to negotiate to secure their release.

The French government issued a statement calling for media organisations to be responsible in their handling of the video after its existence was widely reported Sunday and it was viewable on some websites.

"Following information relative to the content of a video cassette in which our two compatriots from France 3 appear... the foreign ministry appeals to everyone's sense of responsibility," the ministry said in a statement.

"In this type of situation, in consideration of the families of our compatriots and in the interests of their security, discretion is vital," it said.

The journalists went missing along with three Afghan colleagues on December 30, in the eastern Afghan province of Kapisa.

Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner said on Monday that indirect negotiations had started with the kidnappers.