Two French journalists who have been held for almost two weeks by a radical Islamic group in Iraq are no longer in the hands of their kidnappers, French Culture Minister said. But the minister, Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres, did not say the two men, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, had been set free. A report on the Arab television news network al-Jazeera said the group now holding the men intended to release them. Al-Jazeera gave no further details. Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin's reaction to the developments was guarded. He said information gathered by the French was "uncertain", according to a statement released by his office. Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin was hopeful that the hostages, who were kidnapped August 20 by the Islamic Army of Iraq, would be freed by Friday prayers in Iraq. Earlier Thursday, the French Foreign Ministry confirmed Chesnot and Malbrunot were being well treated by their kidnappers. --More 0145 Local Time 2245 GMT
