Bigley granted Irish passport

The Irish Government has issued British hostage Kenneth Bigley with an Irish passport in an attempt to secure his release.

The intervention came on the request of his family and Minister for Foreign Affairs Dermot Ahern said he hoped it would help convince the kidnappers in Iraq of his Irish citizenship.

He said: "I am happy to agree to the request and I, and the Taoiseach and the Government as a whole, very much hope that it will contribute to the efforts to secure his release."

Mr Bigley's mother Elizabeth is originally from Dublin and the Irish authorities have made constant appeals for his release.

Paul Bigley said the move could prove "check-mate" in the game being played with the Iraqi captors.

"If it is screened on al-jazeera I will be absolutely ecstatic," he said. "Timing is crucial - they are three hours ahead over there and everyone will be watching television.

"It could make all the difference because of Ireland's neutrality and because of their stance on the war."

He expressed confidence that the fact his brother was travelling on a British passport when kidnapped would not hinder any progress.

"People are allowed two passports," he said. "This really could be check-mate in this awful game of chess we are playing."

Mr Ahern added that if being an Irish citizen makes a difference to the situation it would be well worth it."

The Irish prime minister, Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and the Irish Labour' Party's foreign affairs spokesman Michael D Higgins have all had pleas broadcast on Arab television station al-jazeera.

SDLP MP and Nobel Peace Prize laureate John Hume also made a direct appeal for his release after being approached by the Bigley family.