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Obama to announce changes to US hostage policy Obama to announce US hostage families can pay ransoms
(35 minutes later)
President Barack Obama will announce changes to how the US government handles hostage situations that involve American citizens.President Barack Obama will announce changes to how the US government handles hostage situations that involve American citizens.
The current policy makes it illegal for families of US hostages to pay ransoms to secure the hostage's release.The current policy makes it illegal for families of US hostages to pay ransoms to secure the hostage's release.
His administration has drawn criticism for the policy, and reports say that the government will no longer threaten the families with prosecution.His administration has drawn criticism for the policy, and reports say that the government will no longer threaten the families with prosecution.
The changes come at the conclusion of a six-month review into the US policy.The changes come at the conclusion of a six-month review into the US policy.
The shift raises questions about whether it increases the value of US hostages, and whether it makes Americans living and working abroad a more lucrative target for kidnapping.The shift raises questions about whether it increases the value of US hostages, and whether it makes Americans living and working abroad a more lucrative target for kidnapping.
The White House has also drawn fire for the inconsistent way that the policy of not negotiating with hostage-takers has been applied.The White House has also drawn fire for the inconsistent way that the policy of not negotiating with hostage-takers has been applied.
The Associated Press news agency, citing unnamed US officials, says that the change in policy will allow government employees to facilitate negotiations between the hostages' families and the hostage-takers.The Associated Press news agency, citing unnamed US officials, says that the change in policy will allow government employees to facilitate negotiations between the hostages' families and the hostage-takers.
However, it will continue to prohibit the US government from directly paying ransoms or offering other concessions.However, it will continue to prohibit the US government from directly paying ransoms or offering other concessions.
Analysis: Frank Gardner, BBC News Defence and Security Correspondent
The US administration's review of how it handles hostage situations overseas follows widespread and well-deserved criticism of its performance to date.
Although the US Government has made enormous efforts to secure the release of its citizens kidnapped in the Middle East, it failed to communicate these effectively to the next-of-kin.
Relatives were given confusing and sometimes contradictory information from different arms of government. Most significantly, one family was threatened with prosecution if it paid a ransom to terrorists.
That threat now appears to have been lifted for US citizens, although without a change in the law.
In Britain, government officials say no one has ever been prosecuted for this, but it would be a matter for the police and Crown Prosecution Service to decide.
The adoption of a single "fusion centre" inside the FBI as a point of contact for families brings the US closer into line with Britain, where the FCO's Counter Terrorism Dept takes the lead on all overseas kidnap cases.
To date, the US Justice Department has never prosecuted anyone for paying a ransom, and Mr Obama is expected to make clear that this will continue to be the case.To date, the US Justice Department has never prosecuted anyone for paying a ransom, and Mr Obama is expected to make clear that this will continue to be the case.
By contrast, many European governments regularly pay a ransom to win the release of their citizens who have been taken hostage.By contrast, many European governments regularly pay a ransom to win the release of their citizens who have been taken hostage.
When this fact is cited, US officials have maintained that making payments makes hostage-taking a more attractive proposition and provides a source of income for militant groups.When this fact is cited, US officials have maintained that making payments makes hostage-taking a more attractive proposition and provides a source of income for militant groups.
The policy has long frustrated the hostage's families, who have felt that they had few options to win back their loved ones, and some have said that the policy provided government officials with an excuse to avoid answering the families' questions.The policy has long frustrated the hostage's families, who have felt that they had few options to win back their loved ones, and some have said that the policy provided government officials with an excuse to avoid answering the families' questions.
"We had no one accountable for Jim," said Diane Foley, the mother of James Foley, who was killed by his captors last summer."We had no one accountable for Jim," said Diane Foley, the mother of James Foley, who was killed by his captors last summer.
Mr Obama will make the announcement on Wednesday shortly after meeting with the families of several US citizens who have been taken hostage abroad.Mr Obama will make the announcement on Wednesday shortly after meeting with the families of several US citizens who have been taken hostage abroad.