HOPES were raised today for the speedy release of student hostage Paul Wells after it was revealed that British negotiators were speaking directly to his captors.

The news came after reports that the Al-Faran group holding Paul and three other Westerners had reduced their demands to a point where they were simply requesting reimbursement of the expenses they had incurred.

It was also revealed that Christmas messages from Paul's family had been delivered to him in Kashmir, as well as warm clothes and woolly socks.

Today Paul's mum Dianne, of Bracken Close, Feniscowles, Blackburn, said she believed all the signs suggested her son could soon be released.

She said she herself, Paul's father Bob, brother Stuart, sister Sarah, and girlfriend Catherine Moseley had taped a message for him at the beginning of the December which was then sent to Srinagar.

She said: "We mentioned things we have been doing, sent him our support and love, and tried to say things that would not upset him.

"We knew the messages had arrived in Srinagar but had no idea whether someone would be able to take them out to the Al-Faran group or what they what would do when they received them.

"It would be absolutely wonderful if Paul has been able to hear them."

Messages have also been delivered to fellow British hostage Keith Mangan.

The news that the tapes had successfully arrived with the hostages was confirmed by Keith Mangan's MP, Tim Devlin, the representative for Stockton South.

Mr Devlin said the problem now faced by the authorities was that three or four Al-Faran members had been making differing demands to both the British and Indian High Commissions.

Al-Faran kidnapped Paul, 24 , Keith Mangan, American Donald Hutchings and German Dirk Hasert in July, and demanded the release of 13 activists, including three belonging to the Pakistan-based Harkat-ul-Ansar organisation.

It emerged today that the group modified its demand on December 7, when a representative telephoned the British High Commissioner in New Delhi, Sir Nicholas Fenn.

A newspaper report of the call reveals that it began with a plea for the release by the Indian authorities of one man, a Pakistani national.

Sir Nicholas responded: "We don't think it right to accede to requests like this when our citizens are held against their will because it creates the very conditions for other citizens to be taken by some other group for similar reasons."

He then urged the representative to release the men in time for Christmas.

This was rejected and the Al-Faran negotiator said: "You know we have been treating them as our guests for the last five months plus, and you can expect that we have spent lots of money."

He later added: "We have also lost two of our colleagues while defending your tourists."

Sir Nicholas replied: "I don't think we can be in a position to compensate you for the money you have expended. I sympathise with the loss of your colleagues."

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