Kenneth Bigley, the Briton being held hostage in Iraq, has appeared in a new video tape from his captors in which he says they do not want to kill him.
In the video shown on Al-Jazeera television, Mr Bigley renews his plea to British Prime Minister Tony Blair to meet his kidnappers' demands.
Speaking on RTÉ Radio, the hostage's brother, Paul, said the kidnappers had also claimed they would release Mr Bigley but would kill the next British hostage they took.
The Foreign Office in Britain has confirmed it is continuing to check several messages and postings on Internet websites which claim the 62-year-old hostage could be released imminently.
Earlier, Tony Blair said his government was attempting to make contact with the kidnappers. He also said he was encouraged by the release yesterday of two Italian aid workers.
Italian aid workers released
Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, who were held hostage in Iraq for three weeks, arrived back in Italy last night following their release.
They were greeted by a cheering crowd of well-wishers and journalists at Rome's Ciampino airport before being welcomed back by the Italian PM, Silvio Berlusconi.
The 29-year-olds, who at one stage were reported to have been killed, were handed over to the Red Cross in Baghdad by their captors.
Two Iraqis kidnapped with the women have also been freed. Four Egyptians taken in a separate kidnapping were also released.
Efforts are continuing to free two French hostages kidnapped in Iraq.
An unofficial negotiator told Arabic television that he has reached a deal with kidnappers to free the pair. The French government has distanced itself from his remarks.
Yahir Sahid, an Iraqi specialist at the London School of Economics, said releasing the two Italian women was a tactical move designed to limit political damage.
