French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said Sunday he was optimistic that two French journalists held hostage in Iraq would soon be freed. After briefing President Jacques Chirac, Barnier told reporters he had grounds to believe that the two men, Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, were in good health and would soon be set free. A delegation of senior French Moslems travelled to Iraq last week to press for the release of the two men who were kidnapped two weeks ago. Delegation member Mohammad Bishari said the visit to Iraq had allowed them to explain to the Iraqis that France was not part of the war against Islam. Barnier travelled to Jordan where he discussed efforts to release the men with his Jordanian counterpart Marwan Muasher. He told Chirac Sunday he was ready to return to the Middle East if necessary to secure the journalists' release.
