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Talks 'failed to save Islamic State hostage Kassig' | Talks 'failed to save Islamic State hostage Kassig' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Details have emerged of an attempt to secure the release of kidnapped US aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig before he was killed by Islamic State militants. | Details have emerged of an attempt to secure the release of kidnapped US aid worker Abdul-Rahman Kassig before he was killed by Islamic State militants. |
A US lawyer told the BBC he persuaded two radical Muslim clerics in the Middle East to make contact with IS. | A US lawyer told the BBC he persuaded two radical Muslim clerics in the Middle East to make contact with IS. |
But the talks broke down when one of the clerics was arrested in Jordan for promoting jihadist views, he said. | But the talks broke down when one of the clerics was arrested in Jordan for promoting jihadist views, he said. |
The FBI has confirmed to the BBC that it was aware of the discussions, but refused to elaborate. | The FBI has confirmed to the BBC that it was aware of the discussions, but refused to elaborate. |
New York lawyer Stanley Cohen said he was asked to help by a US veteran and Palestinian activists who knew Mr Kassig. He was known as Peter before he converted to Islam while in captivity. | New York lawyer Stanley Cohen said he was asked to help by a US veteran and Palestinian activists who knew Mr Kassig. He was known as Peter before he converted to Islam while in captivity. |
Mr Cohen, who has represented Hezbollah, Hamas and the son-in-law of Osama Bin Laden, said he discussed his plans with the FBI before travelling to Kuwait and Jordan as a private citizen. | Mr Cohen, who has represented Hezbollah, Hamas and the son-in-law of Osama Bin Laden, said he discussed his plans with the FBI before travelling to Kuwait and Jordan as a private citizen. |
Abdul-Rahman (aka Peter) Kassig | Abdul-Rahman (aka Peter) Kassig |
Abdul-Rahman Kassig's letters home | Abdul-Rahman Kassig's letters home |
There, he says he met clerics with links to al-Qaeda, and persuaded them to intervene on behalf of Mr Kassig. | There, he says he met clerics with links to al-Qaeda, and persuaded them to intervene on behalf of Mr Kassig. |
One of them - Abu Mohammed al-Maqdisi, the spiritual leader of the Jordanian Salafist-jihadist movement - began sending messages to Islamic State leaders. | One of them - Abu Mohammed al-Maqdisi, the spiritual leader of the Jordanian Salafist-jihadist movement - began sending messages to Islamic State leaders. |
But he was arrested by the Jordanian government for using the internet to promote jihadist views, and the talks subsequently broke down. | But he was arrested by the Jordanian government for using the internet to promote jihadist views, and the talks subsequently broke down. |
The other cleric was reportedly Abu Qatada, who was released from prison in Jordan in September after being found not guilty of terrorism offences by a court in Amman. | The other cleric was reportedly Abu Qatada, who was released from prison in Jordan in September after being found not guilty of terrorism offences by a court in Amman. |
He confirmed in an interview with the Guardian newspaper that he had he worked with Abu Mohammed al-Maqdisi to help save Mr Kassig. | He confirmed in an interview with the Guardian newspaper that he had he worked with Abu Mohammed al-Maqdisi to help save Mr Kassig. |
Mr Cohen said negotiations with Islamic State, formerly known as Isis, had been "sandbagged by the Jordanian government". | Mr Cohen said negotiations with Islamic State, formerly known as Isis, had been "sandbagged by the Jordanian government". |
"The bottom line is this: it wasn't Isis that broke the agreement although Isis did, in fact, kill Kassig," Mr Cohen told the BBC's Newsday programme. | "The bottom line is this: it wasn't Isis that broke the agreement although Isis did, in fact, kill Kassig," Mr Cohen told the BBC's Newsday programme. |
"The agreement was broken by Jordan and the US did nothing to undo it. I went to the Middle East with the assurances from Isis that come - that he'll remain alive - we'll listen to you and we'll see where this goes and for six weeks he remained alive." | "The agreement was broken by Jordan and the US did nothing to undo it. I went to the Middle East with the assurances from Isis that come - that he'll remain alive - we'll listen to you and we'll see where this goes and for six weeks he remained alive." |
The Jordanian government has not commented on the allegations. | The Jordanian government has not commented on the allegations. |
Mr Cohen is due to begin a prison term next month for tax offences. | Mr Cohen is due to begin a prison term next month for tax offences. |
A former US ranger, Mr Kassig, 26, founded a humanitarian organisation to help refugees fleeing from Syria's conflict. | A former US ranger, Mr Kassig, 26, founded a humanitarian organisation to help refugees fleeing from Syria's conflict. |
He was captured by Islamic State in October 2013 while travelling towards to Deir al-Zour in eastern Syria. The group announced his death on 16 November with a grim video showing the aftermath of his decapitation. |