FOREIGN SECRETARY and Blackburn MP Jack Straw today stepped in to try and resolve the international love-tug row which has separated two children from their mother.
Josephine Bromley, who has now spent almost a month without her daughters after they were snatched by their father and flown to Jordan, today welcomed Mr Straw's personal intervention and declared: "If anyone can help me, he can."
Miss Bromley, of Lower Darwen, was due to have her daughters Salam, 10, and Noor, seven, returned to her by their Jordanian father, Jehad Al-Momani, on July 30 after they spent a week with him. She has already enlisted the police, local councillors and even the courts in her battle to get them back.
But she claimed the girls' father, of Station Road, Great Harwood, has told her that he will never return them.
The Lower Darwen Primary School pupils were made wards of court by a judge in Blackburn after their abduction but as there is no agreement between Britain and Jordan forcing the Middle East country to recognise UK court orders, Miss Bromley is pinning her hopes on diplomatic pressure.
Mr Straw admitted it will take a lot to bring the girls home but he met Miss Bromley last week after returning from his summer holiday and is one of three MPs now investigating the case.
He vowed to take up the case personally, both in his role as Foreign Secretary and MP, and said: "I had a lengthy meeting with Miss Bromley and her parents, who live in my constituency.
"I will now be following this case up, both a constituency MP and as Foreign Secretary, and getting in touch with the relevant authorities. "Miss Bromley handed me quite a bit of paperwork which I will now be studying to see how we can take the case further.
"I understand Janet Anderson has also taken up the case.
"This is a very harrowing story. Along with my officials I will be pursuing this matter vigorously and will take the appropriate action as far as Jordan is concerned, although I do not underestimate the difficulties.
"As a parent myself, I particularly feel for the mother after what has happened and the most important thing here is to get the children back safely."
Miss Bromley said: "I am pleased with the way the meeting went although I do not know what exactly Mr Straw can do to help us.
"But I do know that, given the current situation with the Jordanian authorities, who are very reluctant to help, it is case that if anyone can help us, he can.
"I just hope he can put on enough pressure to get the girls home. He seems confident."
With the end of the summer holidays approaching, parents are normally busy preparing for their children's return to school. Miss Bromley, who lives with her partner Paul Tomlinson and eldest daughter Emma, 14, added: "At first, things were really frantic and I didn't really have time to think.
"But as things have slowed down it has really begun to get to me. I wasn't allowed to talk to them on Noor's birthday and I have been told not to ring until September 12. I don't know why.
"We keep trying a mobile number for them but it is always on voicemail. I have another number, but the father told me if I ring that they will just change the number.
"Every day I wake up and think 'not again.' I just want it all to end."
Police are still waiting to hear back from their colleagues in Jordan, who are checking to see if the girls are OK.
Jordanian Government officials have said the best way of getting the girls back to Britain is to fight through their courts.
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