MOSCOW, Aug. 31 (Xinhuanet) -- French President Jacques Chirac Tuesday reiterated his country's resolution to free two French journalists held hostage in Iraq, reports from Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi said.

    After meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in Sochi, Chirac said France is resolved to freeing the hostages. He thanked the other two heads of state for their "unreserved support for the efforts made by theFrench authorities" towards this goal, the Interfax news agency reported.

    A group calling itself the Islamic Army in Iraq claimed late Saturday to have kidnapped Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot,two French journalists who went missing in Iraq on Aug. 20.

    The group demanded that Paris end its ban on headscarves in state schools. The Arabic Al-Jazeera TV network on Monday broadcast video footage of the journalists calling on France to bow to the demands of the kidnappers.

    Speaking of the kidnappers' request, Chirac said: "The French democracy has its values, its laws and traditions. I cannot add anything to this," Interfax reported.

    The French president also expressed gratitude "for the support given to us throughout the world in freeing our hostages in Iraq."

    French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier is currently in the Middle East attempting to negotiate the release of the two journalists. Enditem