Berlin, Dec 4, SPA -- Chancellor Angela Merkel and other leadingGerman figures pressed Sunday for the release of an aidworker kidnapped in Iraq more than a week ago, while thegovernment continued trying to establish contact with hercaptors. "We appeal to the perpetrators to release the captiveswithout delay," Merkel said in an appeal published by theBild am Sonntag newspaper and carried by The Associated Press. She said the government "is doing everything it can to save the lives of SusanneOsthoff and her companion," an Iraqi driver. Osthoff, 43, was seized along with her driver on Nov. 25.In a video made public on Tuesday but never broadcast infull, her kidnappers threatened to kill her unless Germanystops cooperating with the Iraqi government.--SPAssss1323 Local Time 1023 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/307653