DUBAI, Sept 28 (AFP) - A purported French envoy seeking the release of two French journalists held hostage in Iraq told Al-Arabiya television Tuesday he had seen the pair and a deal had been reached for their release.
But the foreign ministry in Paris promptly denied the claim, saying it was not aware of such a deal.
"I can confirm that both are in good health, (also) psychologically. After my meeting with them and with the group representing the delegation, we were able to reach (agreement on) two things," Philippe Brett told Dubai-based Al-Arabiya by telephone from Baghdad, according to an Arabic translation of his remarks.
"First, the liberation of Christian and Georges. Second, to receive an audiotape from them personally announcing they will be released soon," he said.
The television identified Brett as "representative of the French delegation following up the case of the two French journalists."
Le Figaro's Georges Malbrunot and Radio France correspondent Christian Chesnot, as well as their Syrian driver and interpreter, Mohammed al-Jundi, have been held since August 20 by a group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq.
Brett said the deal did not involve payment of a ransom but added that he would withhold further details in order not to jeopardize efforts to secure the newsmen's release.
Brett's claim followed the release on Tuesday of two Italian aid workers held hostage in Iraq for three weeks, which raised hopes that the Frenchmen might also be freed soon.
Al-Arabiya quoted unspecified sources as saying that Chesnot and Malbrunot could be free within 48 hours.
But the French foreign ministry said it was not aware of a deal to free the pair.
"We are not aware of a mission by an envoy who saw the hostages," spokeswoman Marie Mas-Dupuy told AFP.
Brett in the past co-founded a little known group which lobbied for the lifting of UN sanctions imposed on Iraq after the regime of ousted president Saddam Hussein invaded neighboring Kuwait in 1990.