Family holds new fears for Sooden

The family of former Auckland student Harmeet Sooden says they are "anxious and tense" after news that an American kidnapped in Iraq with their brother was found dead.

The US State Department confirmed the discovery of the body of Tom Fox, 54, of Clearbrook, Virginia, a Christian activist taken hostage with Sooden and two others in November.

His body was found near Baghdad and is now en route to the United States.

Mark Brewer, Sooden's brother in law, told the Herald on Sunday from his Auckland home that the family was worried.

"There were four and now there's three. That plays around in our minds," he said.

The family's thoughts were with the Fox family, and they were in regular email contact, he said.

"We'll give them a few days before we make contact."

New Zealand Foreign Affairs telephoned Sooden's family early yesterday morning with news of Mr Fox's death.

"We have family and friends coming around throughout the day, coming and offering us support. That's how we are getting through," said Mr Brewer.

"We watch and wait and follow the news."

The group was kidnapped in Baghdad last year by a previously unknown group called the Swords of Righteousness Brigades who accused the hostages of spying for the US.

They threatened to kill the men unless all Iraqi detainees were released from American jails. However, several deadlines given by the group passed.

The four men worked for Christian Peacemaker Teams, one of the few remaining aid groups operating in Iraq.

In New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesman Brad Tattersfield said the ministry was informed early yesterday by Canadian officials of the discovery of Mr Fox's body.

Nothing further was known about the whereabouts or wellbeing of Mr Sooden, he said.

Christian Peacemaker Teams said Mr Fox's body was found in Baghdad on Thursday.

"Christian Peacemaker Teams extends 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," it said.

"We renew our plea for the safe release of Harmeet Sooden, Jim Loney and Norman Kember," the group added.

Earlier this week, those three remaining hostages were shown in a video aired on Al Jazeera television. The men called on Gulf Arab leaders and their own governments to help free them.

The video, dated February 28, was the first since the hostage-takers said in January that US-led forces had one last chance to free Iraqi prisoners or the men would be killed.

The men shown in that video appeared to be Kember, a Briton, and Canadians Loney and Sooden, and they all seemed to be in good health.

A friend of Mr Fox, John Surr, told CNN his colleague was doing what he felt was right in Baghdad. He said Mr Fox lived in Iraq for two years prior to his capture, without bodyguards or protection, and thrived in the environment.

Mr Surr said CPT's work to help rebuild Iraq continues, despite the kidnappings.

More than 200 foreigners and thousands of Iraqis have been kidnapped since the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq.

- NZPA