UK believes Daesh hostage John Cantlie is alive

This file image taken from video released on Wednesday Dec. 7, 2016 by the Islamic State's Amaq news agency, shows captive British photojournalist John Cantlie in what appeared to be central Mosul, Iraq. (AP)

• Cantlie was kidnapped by the Daesh group along with American journalist James Foley, who was eventually beheaded by the extremists
• Wallace said the British government’s policy is not to pay ransoms for hostages

LONDON: British Security Minister Ben Wallace has told journalists that the government believes British hostage John Cantlie is alive.
Wallace made the comments to journalists Tuesday. He did not say what intelligence supported the belief that the photojournalist, captured in northwestern Syria in November 2012, is still alive.
He did say officials believe Cantlie is being held by Daesh operatives.
Cantlie was kidnapped by the Daesh group along with American journalist James Foley, who was eventually beheaded by the extremists.
Cantlie has worked for several publications, including The Sunday Times, The Sun and The Sunday Telegraph.
Wallace said the British government’s policy is not to pay ransoms for hostages.