France says two French hostages held in Iraq are being well treated but there are hurdles to overcome to secure their release.
"We know they are being well treated. Beyond that, I hope we remain prudent and that everyone, everywhere and especially here, keeps their composure," Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said on France 2 television from Amman on Friday.
Earlier, hopes rose for the quick release of journalists Georges Malbrunot and Christian Chesnot, seized on August 20, with an Iraqi negotiator and the Arab League both expressing optimism they would be freed soon.
French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin expressed "prudence but confidence" about the prospects of securing their release.
"We have positive information but there are hurdles to overcome," he said in La Chapelle-Montreuil, in western France.
In Iraq, Sheikh Hisham Duleimi, who is involved in negotiations to free the men, said there were "excellent signs" they would be freed soon.
"We have reached positive, tangible results regarding the release of the two French journalists," Duleimi said. "The signs are good, excellent."
Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa also said he believed the two men would be released soon. Moussa said he had been in contact with people in Iraq, but did not elaborate.
"I believe the two hostages are on the way back to freedom. This is our hope and we see things developing in this direction," he told Reuters at a conference in Cernobbio, northern Italy.