|TOP|A large-scale demonstration is being planned by a local Iraqi human rights group in a push for the release of the four Christian Peacemaker Teams hostages, a Canadian colleague of the captives said earlier in the week.

The group planning the protest, which has not been named for security reasons, has scheduled the event for this Friday in the same square of the former President of Iraq, Saddam Hussein, according to fellow team member Allan Slater in Baghdad.

Slater described the group staging the protest as “very supportive of what we do,” adding that, “They’re making the point that we have helped many detainees”.

The retired farmer from the south-western Ontario town of Lakeside the controversy surrounding the “terrible Danish cartoons” had only served to complicate the situation for the hostages, which include British Professor Norman Kember.

"It's a big story here and it's very unfortunate," he said. "It hasn't made it any better for us."

|AD|The Christian Peacemakers still in Baghdad have been asked by the group staging the protest to stay away from the event due to heightened security concerns.

Professor Kember was abducted last autumn from the streets of Baghdad by a little known group, the Swords of Righteousness Brigade, along with the two Canadians, Jim Loney of Toronto and Harmeet Sooden, formerly of Montreal, as well as American Tom Fox.

Despite the precarious situation in Baghdad the Christian Peacemaker Teams continue to carry out work in the city, albeit it slightly hindered by the latest developments.

"One of the best things we can do for ourselves and for our detained friends is to keep doing our work," Slater said.