US journalist Jill Carroll appeals for authorities to meet her captors demands in new video

U.S. journalist Jill Carroll, who was kidnapped in Iraq a month ago, pleaded with authorities to meet her captors' demands quickly in a video aired on Kuwaiti television Thursday, saying "there is a very short time."

Photo: US journalist Jill Carroll appeals for authorities to meet her captors demands in new video

Carroll appeared in the black-and-white video wearing an Islamic veil, sitting in a chair in front of a wall with a large floral design. She spoke to the camera in a firm voice, without weeping.

"I am here. I am fine. Please just do whatever they want, give them whatever they want as quickly as possible," she said, saying she was speaking on Feb. 2. "There is a very short time. Please do it fast. That's all."

The video was aired on Al Rai TV, a private Kuwaiti channel, unlike two previous videos of Carroll issued by her captors, which were handed over to the more widely watched Al-Jazeera.

The video was delivered earlier Thursday to Al Rai's Baghdad office, Hani al-Srougi, an editor at the station's headquarters in Kuwait, told The Associated Press. It was accompanied by a letter written by Carroll, which the station is holding. He would not give the contents of the letter.

In the tape, Carroll mentions the letter and suggests that her captors issued a letter in her handwriting previously. It was the first report of any letters from Carroll.

"I am with the mujahadeen (holy warriors). I sent you a letter written by my hand, but you wanted more evidence, so we are sending you this letter now to prove I am with the mujahadeen," she said.

The 28-yar-old Carroll, who worked freelance for The Christian Science Monitor, was abducted on Jan. 7 in Baghdad. Her captors, calling themselves the Revenge Brigades, demanded the release of all Iraqi women prisoners held in U.S. and Iraqi jails, reports AP.

O.Ch.