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Iraq abduction anniversary marked Iraq abduction anniversary marked
(about 1 hour later)
The families of five British men being held hostage in Iraq are marking a year without their loved ones.The families of five British men being held hostage in Iraq are marking a year without their loved ones.
The civilian contractors were kidnapped by armed militants at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance in Baghdad.The civilian contractors were kidnapped by armed militants at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance in Baghdad.
Some of their friends and relatives have marked the anniversary with an exclusive interview with the BBC.Some of their friends and relatives have marked the anniversary with an exclusive interview with the BBC.
In it, the sister of one man, named only as Jason, appeals to the kidnappers to release her brother, saying: "We miss him dearly." In it, the sister of one man, named only as Jason, has pleaded for the kidnappers to release her brother, saying: "We miss him dearly."
The father of another hostage, named as Alec, tells how he went into "shock" when he heard his son had been seized. Jason's sister, Lisette, told Radio 5 Live: "Give him back, let him come home to his family.
'Sensitive negotiations' 'It will destroy you'
A friend of another of those held tells how much the man, also called Jason, loves his only daughter and how much the child misses her father. "We really miss him, there's not a day, or a minute or anything that goes by without us thinking about Jason. We really want him home."
A man identified only as Colin, father of a hostage named Alec, told the radio programme he had to "believe that the outcome's going to be positive", but described how he went into "shock" when he heard his son had been seized.
"When the reality sets in, that it's actually your son, things pale into insignificance for the first three days, shell shock," he said.
"As things develop you sort of live with it, although you never completely get used to it, you've got to live with it, otherwise it will destroy you."
I'll never forget that as long as I live, when his only daughter was born Friend of hostage
A friend of another of those held tells how much the man, also named Jason, loves his only daughter and how much the child misses her father.
She recalled her favourite memories of her friend: "My favourite memory of Jason, I remember when his daughter was born, just seeing the look on his face.
"I'll never forget that as long as I live, when his only daughter was born."
And Caroline, the sister-in-law of another hostage, Alan, described him as someone with "a very vibrant personality", who loved motor biking and sky diving.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says sensitive negotiations for the men's release are going on behind the scenes.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office says sensitive negotiations for the men's release are going on behind the scenes.
Hostage videos
But earlier this month, the father of one of the captives accused the government of not keeping the families fully informed.But earlier this month, the father of one of the captives accused the government of not keeping the families fully informed.
One of the hostages has been named as IT consultant Peter Moore, from Lincoln, who was working for Bearingpoint, an American management consultancy.One of the hostages has been named as IT consultant Peter Moore, from Lincoln, who was working for Bearingpoint, an American management consultancy.
The other four men, who were employed by a security firm to guard Mr Moore, have not been officially identifiedThe other four men, who were employed by a security firm to guard Mr Moore, have not been officially identified
Hostage videos
Over the past 12 months the kidnappers, calling themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq, have released two videos of the captives.Over the past 12 months the kidnappers, calling themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq, have released two videos of the captives.
In December, a film was broadcast on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya warning one hostage would be killed unless British troops were withdrawn from Iraq.In December, a film was broadcast on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya warning one hostage would be killed unless British troops were withdrawn from Iraq.
Media blackout
One of the men, who said his name was Jason, was shown in the clip complaining that the kidnapped men felt they had been "forgotten".One of the men, who said his name was Jason, was shown in the clip complaining that the kidnapped men felt they had been "forgotten".
A second video, broadcast by Al-Arabiya in February, showed Mr Moore asking Prime Minister Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the Britons' release.A second video, broadcast by Al-Arabiya in February, showed Mr Moore asking Prime Minister Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the Britons' release.
The threat to kill the hostage was apparently not carried out.The threat to kill the hostage was apparently not carried out.
The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, took the unusual step of recording a direct video appeal to the kidnappers earlier this month.The former Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey, took the unusual step of recording a direct video appeal to the kidnappers earlier this month.
The case has not featured in the media as much as other kidnappings in Iraq - including those of Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan - because of a Foreign Office request for minimal coverage, made in keeping with the wishes of the men's families.The case has not featured in the media as much as other kidnappings in Iraq - including those of Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan - because of a Foreign Office request for minimal coverage, made in keeping with the wishes of the men's families.
The kidnappers had asked for a media blackout and the Foreign Office said it did not want anything to get in the way of its negotiations, through third parties, to get the men released.The kidnappers had asked for a media blackout and the Foreign Office said it did not want anything to get in the way of its negotiations, through third parties, to get the men released.