Did Jill Carroll's Abductors Ask for $8 Million?

By: E&P Staff The man who may have played some role in journalist Jill Carroll's recent release in Iraq has told ABC News that kidnapping the American journalist was a mistake. Sheikh Sattam al-Gaaod was one of three people specifically thanked by Carroll's family after her release.

He said the insurgents in Iraq "are defending their country" but "sometimes they do mistakes."

Al-Gaaod said he used his influence to help free Carroll, although he refused the kidnappers' demands for an $8 million ransom, he said. But he said he did arrange financial donations to widows and orphans.

"We did good donations," he said. The editor of the Christian Science Monitor said he was unaware of any ransom payment paid by anyone, ABC reported.