Fears for Kember as US Hostage Found Dead

|PIC1|The discovery of the body in Iraq of a US hostage has sparked fears for the safety of the remaining three hostages which include British Professor Norman Kember.

U.S. State Department spokesman Noel Clay said in Washington: "The FBI has identified the body of Tom Fox. The family has been notified and our heartfelt condolences go out to the family."

Iraqi police said Saturday that American hostage Tom Fox, a peace activist in Baghdad with the Chicago-based Christian Peacemaker Teams, was tortured before being shot and dumped beside a railway line in Baghdad.

"His hands were tied behind him and he had gunshot wounds. There were signs of torture," a police source told Reuters.

Clay added that the US government called for the “unconditional release of all hostages”, a call repeated by CPT who said in a statement on their website that the death of Fox “pierces us with pain”.

|TOP|Fears for 54-year-old Fox had arisen after he failed to appear alongside fellow captives Kember and Canadians Jim Loney and Harmeet Sooden on a video dated Feb. 28 which was aired on Al-Jazeera earlier in the week.

In a statement, Dr Doug Pritchard, CPT co-director, once again called for the safe release of Mr Kember and the remaining hostages.

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

He added: "We continue in hope for Jim, Harmeet and Norman's safe return home."

U.S. embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton said Fox's body was on its way back to the United States.
Speaking shortly before a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Salzburg, Austria, on Saturday Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he remained very concerned.

He said: "We are deeply saddened by the news. Our thoughts and prayers are with the friends and family of Mr Fox. This clearly raises the anxiety about the other hostages and we have been in contact with Mr Kember's family."

The death of Fox has sparked the call to Iraqi leaders from US President George W. Bush to quickly form a national unity government as mounting unrest continues to give weight to fears of a civil war.