CANBERRA, May 18 (Xinhuanet) -- Australia's senior Muslim cleric Sheikh Taj el-Din Al Hilaly reportedly said on Wednesday that captors of Australian hostage Douglas Wood has told him Wood may be released within 24 hours.

    A journalist of Australia's SBS radio service said Sheikh Al Hilaly told her he had been contacted by a man in a phone call who said he represented the militants holding Wood, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.

    Wood, an Australian citizen who had been working in Iraq as a contractor, was shown on Al Jazeera TV on May 2 being held captive by armed men.

    Sheikh Al Hilaly had been in Iraq for more than a week in an effort to securing the release of Wood.

    But a spokeswoman for Australian Department of Foreign Affairs said that Australian authorities in Baghdad have not been able to confirm the report.

    Australian Prime Minister John Howard said he hopes reports that Wood will be released soon are true, while maintaining a cautious attitude.

    "We would all hope that it's right but we would also be aware in a situation like this there are always people who will represent things, I don't mean the sheikh, I mean others who may be representing to him things that may not be correct," he told Southern Cross radio.

    "I hope that it is correct and we'll obviously keep in very close contact," he said. Enditem