Tom Fox found dead

Jersay

House Member
Dec 1, 2005
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Independent Palestine
WASHINGTON (CP) - An American who was among four Christian activists kidnapped last year in Iraq has been killed, a U.S. State Department spokesman said Friday.

The FBI verified a body found in Iraq on Friday morning was that of Tom Fox, 54, of Clear Brook, Va., spokesman Noel Clay said. He said he had no information on the other three hostages, who include James Loney, 41, of Toronto and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, formerly of Montreal.

Clay said additional forensics will be done in the United States. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad is investigating, he said.

Fox's family has been notified, Clay said, and "our heartfelt condolences go out to them."

"The State Department continues to call for the unconditional release of all other hostages" in Iraq, the spokesman said.

On Tuesday, Al-Jazeera television aired footage of the three other activists purported appealing to their governments to secure their release.

The hostages seen in the brief video dated Feb. 28 were Loney, Sooden and Briton Norman Kember, 74.

Allan Slater, a Canadian member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, said at the time he was disturbed not to see Fox.

"We certainly are hopeful when we see three of our friends alive but also it's very distressing that we didn't see Tom Fox and I wouldn't want to hide that because I'm sure it's very distressful for Tom's family and friends as well," Slater told The Canadian Press from Baghdad.

The previously unknown Swords of Righteousness Brigades claimed responsibility for kidnapping the four workers, who disappeared Nov. 26.

The four had not been heard from since a videotape aired by Al-Jazeera on Jan. 28, dated from a week before. A statement reported accompanying that tape said the hostages would be killed unless all Iraqi prisoners were released from U.S. and Iraqi prisons. No deadline was set.

Iraqi and western security officials repeatedly warned the activists before their abduction they were taking a grave risk by moving around Baghdad without bodyguards.

Christian Peacemaker Teams had been working in Iraq since October 2002, investigating allegations U.S. and Iraqi forces abused Iraqi detainees. Its teams host human rights conferences in conflict zones, promoting peaceful solutions.

In an e-mailed statement Friday, the Christian Peacemaker Teams said they extended "our deep and heartfelt condolences to the family and community of Tom Fox, with whom we have travelled so closely in these days of crisis."

"We mourn the loss of Tom Fox who combined a lightness of spirit, a firm opposition to all oppression, and the recognition of God in everyone."

The statement said: "We renew our plea for the safe release of Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember."

"In response to Tom's passing, we ask that everyone set aside inclinations to vilify or demonize others, no matter what they have done.

"In Tom's own words: 'We reject violence to punish anyone."'

A chronology of the kidnapping of four peace activists in Iraq, two of them Canadian:

October 2002: Christian Peacemaker Teams sets up in Iraq six months before the U.S.-led invasion.

Nov. 26, 2005: Canadians Jim Loney, 41, and Harmeet Sooden, 32, and Briton Norm Kember, 74, and American Tom Fox, 54, are kidnapped in Baghdad by a group calling itself Swords of Righteousness Brigades.

Nov. 29: Christian Peacemaker Teams blames the kidnappings on the U.S. and British invasion and occupation of Iraq. The four hostages are shown on videotape broadcast by the Al-Jazeera news network.

Nov. 30: The influential Association of Muslim Scholars calls for hostages' release.

Dec. 1: Families and friends of hostages plead for their release.

Dec. 2: Al-Jazeera broadcasts a second video in which kidnappers threaten to execute the four hostages unless all Iraqi prisoners in U.S.-and Iraqi-run detention centres are released by Dec. 8. Prime Minister Paul Martin promises all federal government resources to secure the release of hostages. Deadline subsequently extended to Dec. 10.

Jan. 28, 2006: Al-Jazeera broadcasts videotape showing four activists with warning of "last chance" for authorities to release Iraqi prisoners.

March 7: Al-Jazeera broadcasts new videotape showing three activists apparently calling on their governments to help them. American Tom Fox is not seen in the video.

March 10: U.S. State Department reports Tom Fox's body found in Baghdad. Fate of other three hostages unknown.

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