The son of Libyan leader Colonel Gadafy said today that he was using his charity foundation contacts in Iraq to help free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, saying the next 48 hours would be crucial for his fate.
Saif Gaddafi said Bigley's family had contacted him about the 62-year-old engineer, kidnapped 19 days ago by militants who have already beheaded two Americans seized with the Briton.
"The family called two days ago," Gaddafi told reporters in Vienna. "We have good contacts in Iraq. We have friends in hospitals ... tribal leaders and we are talking to them."
"Today and tomorrow are crucial for him," the 32-year-old said, speaking at the opening of an art exhibition showing the work of Libyan artists.
Paul Bigley asked Saif Gadafy for help and has since been contacted by the Gadafy International Foundation of Charity Associations.
He believes his brother may have been handed over to a new group, and that those holding him would "like to negotiate a financial settlement."
He said: "Saif said he had heard about the situation and asked what he could do. I said 'Why don't you give your dad a call?' and he promised he would.
"Not long afterwards I had a call from the Gadafy Foundation in Libya, who have pledged to do all they can to help us. They said they would do their very, very best," Mr Bigley said.