French president, FM slate freelance efforts to free hostages

ROME (AFP) — French President Jacques Chirac has lashed out at a private initiative to secure the release of two French hostages in Iraq as "interference" and said he hoped it would not thwart the delicate process, aides said.

His criticisms were echoed by France's Foreign Minister Michel Barnier, who during a visit to Rome condemned "parallel steps" taken by French parliamentarian Didier Julia to get the men freed.

In Amman French envoy Jean-Pierre Lafon called for patience and discretion.

Lafon, director general of the French foreign ministry who arrived in the Jordanian capital early Friday, told AFP that "we are working" on the dossier and what was needed was "patience, perseverance and discretion."

Julia said in Damascus Saturday that he had "no news" of his assistant Philippe Brett, who is heading the unofficial liberation attempt, or of the two hostages, "given that telephone lines do not work." ...