Pope urges release of priests in Iraq

Pope Benedict appealed yesterday for the release of two Catholic priests kidnapped in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, with reports in Iraq saying they were being held for $1 million ransom.

The Pontiff told pilgrims at his weekly Angelus address in St Peter's Square that two priests of the Syrian Catholic Church had been taken "and are now threatened with death".

"I appeal to the kidnappers to release these two priests quickly and I underline once again that violence cannot bring relief to this tense situation," said the Pope.

Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Donnelly, US military spokesman in northern Iraq, said the military was investigating local intelligence reports which said the priests were being held by an unidentified group for $1 million ransom.

"It's another barbaric tactic and it's a sign that they're desperate," Lieutenant-Colonel Donnelly said of the kidnapping.