BAGHDAD, Sept 26: Yusuf Islam, the singer and song-writer formerly known as Cat Stevens, has urged Iraqi militants to free British hostage Kenneth Bigley, seized 10 days ago and threatened with death.

"As a member of the Muslim Council I request you, in the name of Allah, the Rahman, to release the British citizen, Ken Bigley for the good name of our religion and according to the sayings of Allah in the glorious Qur'an," Islam said in a letter sent to the media by the British embassy in Baghdad on Sunday.

The letter is dated Sept. 24. The plea by Islam, known for the hit songs "Moon shadow", "Peace Train" and "The First Cut is the Deepest", came as a delegation of the Muslim Council of Britain was in Iraq pressing for the release of Bigley.

The delegation from Britain's biggest Muslim group met with Iraq's President Ghazi Yawar on Sunday. -Reuters