In June 2004, Ouyahia called Al-Jazeera television, recently closed indefinitely by his government, "a channel whose sole aim was to tarnish Algeria's image."

Last week Aliya Agliulina, whose brother the chef at the Baghdad embassy and himself of Muslim faith was one of the hostages, made an appeal on Al-Jazeera television begging for the four men to be released.

A Fatah al-Islam spokesman, Abu Salim, told Al-Jazeera television that the group was only defending itself.

On 28 January 2006 a new video was released by his captors and shown on Al-Jazeera television.

"The regime isn't committing one war crime but a series of crimes against its people," he said in a dramatic interview with Al-Jazeera television, while still wearing his orange observer's jacket.

He is a frequent guest commentator and expert on Al-Jazeera television, has appeared regularly on CNN's The International Hour and on Special Assignment.

"This government should resign before the Iraqi people force it to resign," Faidi told Al-Jazeera television.

On 19 November, the alleged pirate, Farah Abd Jameh, provided information regarding the ransom by audio tape broadcast over Al-Jazeera television.

In June 2002, the detainee was personally interviewed by Yosri Fouda, an investigative journalist for Al-Jazeera television.

Many of the staff who worked for the original BBC Arabic Television service went on to work for Al-Jazeera television.