Vigil for kidnapped French journalists Christian Chesnot, Georges Malbrunot and their Syrian guide, Mohammed Al-Joundi

Reporters Without Borders was maintaining a vigil today outside the Paris city hall for Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, the two French journalists who have been taken hostage in Iraq. Under gigantic pictures of the two journalists, visitors were able to sign petitions for their release and leave messages of support. The latest news agency reports about them were being posted on bulletin boards. The vigil will continue until they are set free. The organisation called on all mayors in France to show their support by putting up pictures of Chesnot and Malbrunot on the facades of their town halls. "Once again, we appeal to everyone to rally round," Reporters Without Borders said. "The messages of support and public stands that have been taken in recent days must be reiterated. We must remain vigilant and we must keep up the pressure." In a video broadcast by the pan-Arab TV news station Al-Jazeera on 30 August, the two journalists addressed a message to the French government and their fellow countrymen. "We call on the French people (…) to go out and demonstrate to demand the repeal of the veil ban law because our lives are in danger," Malbrunot said, referring to a law passed on 15 March restricting emblems and attire indicating a religious affiliation that may be worn in state schools. Chesnot added: "If it is not repealed, we risk paying with our lives. It is a question of time, perhaps minutes, and then we will be killed like the others." Al-Jazeera said the hostage-takers had extended their deadline by 24 hours. In a first video broadcast by Al-Jazeera on 28 August, a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq gave France 48 hours to repeal the law. Malbrunot, 41, a freelance journalist working for Figaro and Ouest-France, and Chesnot, 38, a freelancer with RFI and Radio-France, were probably kidnapped on 20 August along with Mohammed Al-Joundi, who has been their driver and guide for more than a year.