A trustee of a Hendon-based Christian peace movement has been kidnapped in Iraq.

Norman Kember, a retired physics professor from Pinner, who is a trustee of Pax Christi, at St Joseph's in Watford Way, had been in the war-torn country for just two weeks when he, along with two Canadians and an American, was snatched in west Baghdad on Saturday by members of a group calling itself Swords of Truth Brigade.

Accusing the 74-year-old grandfather of being a spy, a video has been released showing the four hostages sitting on the floor.

It said the group was involved in violence-reduction programmes in areas of conflict and added: "We are angry because what has happened to our team-mates is the result of the actions of the US and UK governments, due to the illegal attack on Iraq, and the continuing occupation and oppression of its people."

Mr Kember, in an interview given to Premier Christian Radio before he went to Iraq on a two-week delegation with the Christian Peacemakers' Team, said that he hoped to meet and encourage ordinary people, regardless of their religious denominations.

His friend, Bruce Kent, vice-president of both Pax Christi and Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, said: "The Government has asked us to play down the Christian side a lot, but he was with Christian peace-making teams.

"He went out to lend support to those already there and to indicate to the sizeable Iraqi Christian population that we were not unanimous in supporting the war."

Mr Kent, 76, went on to say that Mr Kember was supporting peace efforts by helping out at a feeding station and looking after homeless people, and that he did not have bodyguards out of principle'.

"He's a small man of 5ft 6ins with a twinkle in his eye," Mr Kent said. "He was a medical professor with a completely indomitable holy justice against the Iraq war. He's always been a Baptist but his interests are non-sectarian. They have got the wrong person. He was committed to peace: he wasn't wealthy and he wasn't influential with the Government they've got the wrong person and should release him in the interests of peace."

A statement released by Pax Christi read: "Norman, a Baptist, has been consistent in his opposition to the war with Iraq, joining with Pax Christi and other peace groups at protests and public meetings.

"His deep conviction that war is wrong must have led him to make this visit to Iraq to be in solidarity with its people and to see the devastation of the war on the lives of ordinary people."