Libyan leader Muammar GadDafi has pledged his help to free Ken Bigley, the British engineer kidnapped in Iraq last month, according to a report Sunday by Britain's Press Association. After Bigley's brother Paul contacted Gaddafi's London-based son Saif for assistance, members of the Gaddafi family promised to talk to their Middle East contacts. The PA has more.

British police are also investigating a claim on an Islamist website that Bigley will be freed if the UK releases a dozen foreign Islamic militants held in a London high-security prison. Sunday's Guardian has more on this. Last week, negotiators from the Muslim Council of Britain arrived in Iraq to work towards Bigley's release. Meanwhile, Reuters UK reports that Dutch intelligence officials raided the Netherlands home of Paul Bigley, the hostage's brother, and demanded that he hand over names and addresses of the people he has been in contact with in his battle to win the release of his brother.