Australia is preparing to send an emergency team to Iraq to seek the release of a kidnapped Australian contractor, officials say. But Australian Prime Minister John Howard ruled out any negotiations with the man's captors. The hostage identified himself in a video released to journalists in Baghdad on Sunday as Douglas Wood, aged 63, living in California. Wood's American wife says she is sure the man shown is her husband. Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said a task force of federal police and officials from the foreign and defence ministries would head to Iraq as soon as possible to begin working for Wood's release. Howard stressed that the team would not be entering into negotiations with the captors.

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