Kember speaks of time in captivity

Freed British hostage Norman Kember has given an interview talking about his time held captive in Iraq.

Mr Kember, 74, a retired professor from Pinner, north-west London, told the 'Baptist Times' of his "desperate" experience on being confined. He said: "Not going outside for four months - it's having that time stolen."

Mr Kember also said that his captors had shown the hostages a Christian DVD depicting the life of Jesus in Arabic. He told the newspaper that the captors seemed to want to keep the hostages happy, so that they would not attempt to escape. He also described his physical condition as "moderately fit and well".

However, he admitted that the treatment of the hostages had been varied. He said: "One night our captors took us downstairs, sat us in front of the TV and showed us the life of Jesus on DVD in Arabic. But these are the people who shot Tom Fox in the head. People are very complex."

American born Tom Fox, 54, two Canadian citizens James Loney, 41 and Harmeet Singh Sooden, 32, and 74-year-old Briton Norman Kember, were captured in Baghdad last November - all were working for Christian Peacemaker teams.

The body of Tom Fox had been found in Baghdad two weeks prior to the release of the the other hostages. He had been tortured and shot dead.

The four men had been kidnapped by a previously unknown group calling themselves the Swords of Righteousness Brigade. The group had threatened to kill the men unless all Iraqi prisoners were released.

Mr Kember and the two Canadian hostages were freed last week, following an operation led by British forces.

In the interview, Mr Kember praised the SAS team which found the hostages. He said that he was "very grateful" to them and was "full of praise" for them. He also described the diplomatic service as "super".

Mr Kember also thanked the Muslim community for their support in the interview.

(KMcA/SP)