Family uses posters in bid for freedom
By Maria HawthorneMay 23, 2005

THE brothers of Australian hostage Douglas Wood have stepped up their appeal for his release, preparing for a poster blitz around Baghdad.Posters featuring a picture of the 63-year-old engineer and offering a "generous donation" to the Iraqi people in return for his release will be put up in public places around the capital this week.

A family spokesman said the posters were similar to advertisements already placed in Iraqi newspapers and posted on the internet.

The posters will contain more information about the medication Mr Wood needs daily to treat his heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and rheumatoid arthritis.

The spokesman said the family remained strong despite the lack of news about their brother.
"They are holding up very well," he said.

There has been no word on Mr Wood since Australia's Islamic spiritual leader Sheikh Taj al-Din al-Hilaly spoke by telephone to a man claiming to be the kidnapped engineer.

Wood and two Iraqis were kidnapped in Baghdad three weeks ago by a rebel group calling itself the Shura Council of the Mujahedeen of Iraq.

His captors have released two DVDs showing Mr Wood with guns at his head, begging the Australian government to pull its troops out of Iraq.

Mr Wood's family has already created its own website and has issued appeals on Arabic TV station Al-Jazeera.

His brother Malcolm had a briefing from Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade officials yesterday but Mr Wood's fate is still unknown.>>>continued

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