text: Clock ticks down for French hostages, Iraq government in security &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; BAGHDAD : The clock was ticking down for two French hostages whose Islamist abductors have served Paris with an ultimatum to lift a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools, while Iraq #39;s government continued efforts to end the chaos prevailing in the country.
inputs: Clock ticks down for French hostages, Iraq government in security &lt;b&gt;...&lt;/b&gt; BAGHDAD : The clock was ticking down for two French hostages whose Islamist abductors have served Paris with an ultimatum to lift a ban on Muslim headscarves in schools, while Iraq #39;s government continued efforts to end the chaos prevailing in the country.