Hostage in Iraq

A 72-hour ultimatum at the hands of Iraqi abductors may decide the fate of an American woman.

The kidnappers of abducted American journalist Jill Carroll have threatened to kill Carroll unless the United States releases all female Iraqi prisoners within the next three days. Carroll was working for The Christian Science Monitor when she was kidnapped on January 7. The Monitor is exhausting every possibility to secure her release before the Friday deadline arrives.

The Bush administration remains firm in their stance that the United States of American does not and will not negotiate with terrorists. It is yet unknown how or when Carroll would be released.

To follow the story live, tune in to CNN.com where a release watch is in effect.

In related news, nothing has been heard since December concerning the four members of the Christian Peacemaker Team that were kidnapped late last year. For more information and updates on that situation, visit www.cpt.org.