Eldery American held in Pakistan calls on Obama to help

Published December 26, 2013
In this picture released by the SITE Intelligence Group on May 6, 2012 and taken off the video, al Qaeda’s media arm, As-Sahab shows US captive Warren Weinstein telling US President Barack Obama to answer al Qaeda’s demands or he will be killed. – File Photo By AFP
In this picture released by the SITE Intelligence Group on May 6, 2012 and taken off the video, al Qaeda’s media arm, As-Sahab shows US captive Warren Weinstein telling US President Barack Obama to answer al Qaeda’s demands or he will be killed. – File Photo By AFP

ISLAMABAD: An elderly American development worker kidnapped in Pakistan has appeared in a new video, appealing to President Obama to negotiate his release after more than two years in captivity.

In the 13-minute video received Thursday by The Associated Press, Warren Weinstein says he feels ''abandoned.''

Weinstein was Pakistan country director for JE Austin Associates, a US-based firm that advises Pakistani business and government sectors.

He was abducted in August 2011 at his home in Lahore.

Al Qaeda claimed responsibility.

The video and an accompanying letter purportedly written by Weinstein were emailed anonymously to reporters.

The video was labelled ''As-Sahab,'' which is al Qaeda's media wing.

There was no way to verify its authenticity or when it was made.

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