The delegation from the French Council for the Muslim Faith (CFCM) flew in from Amman where it had met with French foreign minister Michel Barnier.

The two vice-presidents of the umbrella group, Muhammad Bechari and Fouad Alawi, as well as a representative from the Paris mosque and several other Muslim officials, were part of the delegation.

Shortly after they met the Committee of Muslim Ulemas in Iraq on Thursday, the French ambassador to Iraq announced the state of the journalists.

"They are alive, in good health and well treated," ambassador Bernard Bajolet said.

The self-styled Islamic Army in Iraq, which kidnapped Radio France correspondent Christian Chesnot and Le Figaro reporter Georges Malbrunot, has demanded that Paris rescind its ban on the Islamic headscarf in state schools.

The law prohibiting the wearing of headscarves and other “conspicuous” religious insignia came into effect on Thursday with the start of the academic year in France.

In an interview with Le Figaro published on Thursday, Bechari said: “The political battle, a purely French one, for religious freedom will resume later on.”

While some Muslim girls were expected to provoke a showdown by wearing their headscarves, the government was optimistic that the day would go smoothly, especially given the hostage drama in Iraq.

“The resumption of classes is a difficult moment to get through. The hostage-takers are waiting for some kind of provocation. We have to be responsible,” Bechari said.

“We want to show our attachment to the republic, to the nation, and to French society. Everyone must understand that laying a hand on a member of French society affects all French people, all members of the Muslim community.”AFP