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Brown in talks on 'hostage' video Brown in talks on 'hostage' video
(30 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Maliki about a video apparently showing a Briton captured in Iraq.Prime Minister Gordon Brown has held talks with his Iraqi counterpart Nouri Maliki about a video apparently showing a Briton captured in Iraq.
The footage is said to have been recorded eight months ago and was aired on an Arabic TV channel.The footage is said to have been recorded eight months ago and was aired on an Arabic TV channel.
It apparently shows one of five captured Britons appealing to Mr Brown to help secure their freedom.It apparently shows one of five captured Britons appealing to Mr Brown to help secure their freedom.
Downing Street said Mr Brown and Prime Minister Maliki had spoken about the situation over the phone earlier.Downing Street said Mr Brown and Prime Minister Maliki had spoken about the situation over the phone earlier.
In the footage a man says in English: "My name is Peter Moore, I have been held here for nearly eight months now."In the footage a man says in English: "My name is Peter Moore, I have been held here for nearly eight months now."
Act 'deplored'
He asks Mr Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the release of the Britons, who were seized in May 2007.He asks Mr Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the release of the Britons, who were seized in May 2007.
All I want is to leave this place ... release their prisoners so we can go Peter Moore
A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been in close contact with Prime Minister Maliki on this issue and discussed it again with him over the phone this morning.A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister has been in close contact with Prime Minister Maliki on this issue and discussed it again with him over the phone this morning.
"Both leaders deplored the taking and public parading of hostages and agreed to continue their close cooperation to secure their early release.""Both leaders deplored the taking and public parading of hostages and agreed to continue their close cooperation to secure their early release."
All I want is to leave this place ... release their prisoners so we can go Peter Moore
The five men were seized from Baghdad's Finance Ministry by gunmen wearing police uniforms on 29 May 2007 without a shot being fired.The five men were seized from Baghdad's Finance Ministry by gunmen wearing police uniforms on 29 May 2007 without a shot being fired.
At the time of the kidnapping officials in Iraq blamed the Mahdi Army, the militia force controlled by the radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr. The BBC's Jim Muir in Baghdad said little was known about the hostage-takers, who call themselves the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq, as they had not been heard of before.
Not authenticated
He said they could be connected to the Mehdi Army militia or have possible links with Iran.
The video has not yet been authenticated but he said there was "little to doubt the veracity of it".
In the video the man, who is wearing a black and white tracksuit and says he is from Lincoln, says: "All I want is to leave this place. I tell Gordon Brown the matter is simple: release their prisoners so we can go.In the video the man, who is wearing a black and white tracksuit and says he is from Lincoln, says: "All I want is to leave this place. I tell Gordon Brown the matter is simple: release their prisoners so we can go.
The good news is that in the extremely brutal and violent world of Iraqi abductions these men appear to be relatively moderate Frank Gardner, BBC News
"It's as simple as that. It's a simple exchange of people. That is all they want - their people, and we can go home.""It's as simple as that. It's a simple exchange of people. That is all they want - their people, and we can go home."
Security experts have said he looks as though he has been forced into making the statement and, although he appears physically well, seems to be under extreme stress. Security experts said he looks as though he has been forced into making the statement and, although he appears physically well, seems to be under extreme stress.
The Foreign Office has condemned the release of the video. BBC News security correspondent Frank Gardner said on Tuesday the kidnappers appeared to have mellowed their tone since the release of a previous tape in December 2007.
In that footage, one of the four British bodyguards, seized along with IT consultant Mr Moore, was flanked by gunmen and warned of an ultimatum.
'Negotiable aims'
Our correspondent said: "The good news is that in the extremely brutal and violent world of Iraqi abductions these men appear to be relatively moderate.
"They've got negotiable aims, although of course Britain doesn't officially negotiate with hostage-takers.
"The fact that they...appear to be keeping [these men] alive, reasonably well fed, not chained up, and that they haven't apparently executed any of them after more than eight months is encouraging."
The Foreign Office condemned the video and encouraged anyone who may have influence over the kidnappers to do what they could to ensure the hostages' release.