The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
London - Britain has ruled out negotiating with the abductors of a British hostage despite his direct plea to Tony Blair to give into the demands of his captors and release Iraqi prisoners. "Of course our hearts go out yet more to him and to his family," Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw told the BBC. "But I'm afraid to say it can't alter the position of the British government.We can't get into a situation of bargaining with terrorists because this would put many more people's lives at risk, not only in Iraq but around the world." London - The singer formerly known as Cat Stevens says he isn't sure why he was barred from entering the United States and hopes it was all a "big mistake." Yusuf Islam arrived in London's Heathrow Airport on Thursday after American officials denied him entry because he was on a list of people who may have links to terrorists. "Half of me wants to smile, and half of me wants to growl. The whole thing is totally ridiculous," Islam told a group of reporters clustered around him at the airport. Washington - Speaking to a joint meeting of Congress, the interim Iraqi prime minister thanked the U.S. on Thursday for liberating his country, saying that despite some setbacks, progress is being made. "We are succeeding in Iraq," said Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, addressing members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
