DOHA, Aug 30 (AFP) - The pan-Arab television channel Al-Jazeera condemned Monday the killing and kidnapping of journalists in Iraq and called for the "immediate release" of abducted newsmen.

"The Al-Jazeera channel condemns all that journalists are subjected to in Iraq, including killings, kidnappings and restrictions," said a statement from the manager`s office of the Doha-based station.

Al-Jazeera "calls for the immediate release of the abducted journalists and for allowing them to pursue their mission in conveying the truth to people everywhere," it added.

Radio France correspondent Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot of Le Figaro newspaper went missing in Iraq on August 20.

The kidnappers, calling themselves the Islamic Army of Iraq, issued late Saturday a 48-hour hour ultimatum carried by Al-Jazeera for France to meet its demands, although the government in Paris insisted Monday it would not change the law.

Al-Jazeera reported late Thursday that the same group had executed Italian journalist Enzo Baldoni after holding him captive for a week.

On August 7, the caretaker Iraqi government ordered Al-Jazeera to close its offices in Baghdad for 30 days following charges it is inciting violence by its reporting and broadcasting of claims by militant groups.

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