WASHINGTON, Dec 9 (Reuters) - The family of a former
FBI agent who vanished in Iran in 2007 has released a
hostage video showing him alive and asking for help.
The video shows Robert Levinson, looking gaunt, asking for
the U.S. government's help "to answer the requests of the group
that has held me for 3-1/2 years". He does not identify the
group in the footage, posted on a website dedicated to his
release.
Levinson's son and wife on Friday also posted a video
message on the website, asking his captors to tell them their
demands for his release.
In March, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the
United States had indications that Levinson was being held in
southwest Asia, and appealed to Iran to provide information
about him.
Washington cut diplomatic relations with Tehran shortly
after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution and the two countries have
been increasingly at odds. Iran's military on Sunday said it had
shot down a U.S. reconnaissance drone in eastern Iran.
Levinson said in the video he was being treated well but
added: "I am not in very good health. I am running very quickly
out of diabetes medicine."
In the family's response, one of Levinson's sons, David,
said the video "was a comfort to the family because it shows us
that my father is alive and that he looks healthy".
"My mother has received your messages," he says. "Please
tell us your demands so we can work together to bring my father
home safely. Thank you for taking care of my father and for
continuing to provide him with the care and medical treatment he
needs to stay alive."
Levinson disappeared while on a business trip to Iran's Kish
island.
(Reporting by Vicki Allen, Washington World Desk, 202-898-8457)
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