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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| UK Iraq hostage 'killed himself' | UK Iraq hostage 'killed himself' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| One of the five British hostages held captive by militants in Iraq has killed himself, a video obtained by the Sunday Times has claimed. | One of the five British hostages held captive by militants in Iraq has killed himself, a video obtained by the Sunday Times has claimed. |
| The tape, purporting to come from the group holding the men, alleges that a man known as Jason died on 25 May 2008. | The tape, purporting to come from the group holding the men, alleges that a man known as Jason died on 25 May 2008. |
| British officials say they are not able to corroborate the claim. | British officials say they are not able to corroborate the claim. |
| Armed militants, disguised as police officers, kidnapped the four bodyguards and a computer expert at the Finance Ministry in Baghdad in May 2007. | Armed militants, disguised as police officers, kidnapped the four bodyguards and a computer expert at the Finance Ministry in Baghdad in May 2007. |
| 'First warning' | 'First warning' |
| The bodyguards worked for security company Gardaworld and the fifth man worked for American management consultancy Bearingpoint. | The bodyguards worked for security company Gardaworld and the fifth man worked for American management consultancy Bearingpoint. |
| In the video, Arabic writing is shown as well as images of two other hostages. | In the video, Arabic writing is shown as well as images of two other hostages. |
| The group which is holding them calls itself the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq. | The group which is holding them calls itself the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq. |
| I want to see my family again Alan | I want to see my family again Alan |
| In December, the kidnappers released a videotape of their hostages. | In December, the kidnappers released a videotape of their hostages. |
| It is understood that the man alleged to have committed suicide is the same Jason who appeared in this previous video. | It is understood that the man alleged to have committed suicide is the same Jason who appeared in this previous video. |
| His family are said to have been informed last week. | His family are said to have been informed last week. |
| A statement, claiming to come from the captors, accuses the British Government of failing to respond to their messages. | A statement, claiming to come from the captors, accuses the British Government of failing to respond to their messages. |
| "This procrastination and foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit suicide on 25/5/2008," the statement ran. | "This procrastination and foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British government has prolonged their psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit suicide on 25/5/2008," the statement ran. |
| "He surprised our brethren, who were taking care of him, with his suicide." | "He surprised our brethren, who were taking care of him, with his suicide." |
| The video also shows another British hostage, Alan, who comes from Dumbarton, appealing to the British Government to meet his captors' demands for the release of prisoners. | |
| "Physically, I'm not doing well," he says. | "Physically, I'm not doing well," he says. |
| "Psychologically, I'm doing a lot worse. | "Psychologically, I'm doing a lot worse. |
| "I want to see my family again." | "I want to see my family again." |
| However, he makes no reference to Jason's alleged suicide. | However, he makes no reference to Jason's alleged suicide. |
| According to the Sunday Times, an intermediary who handed the video to its representative said Jason, believed to be from Aberdeen, had attempted suicide on two previous occasions. | |
| Proof of his death would be handed over if the British Government agreed to negotiate with the militants, the intermediary added. | Proof of his death would be handed over if the British Government agreed to negotiate with the militants, the intermediary added. |
| 'Deep distress' | 'Deep distress' |
| The men were snatched in broad daylight by around 40 men dressed as Iraqi police officers. | The men were snatched in broad daylight by around 40 men dressed as Iraqi police officers. |
| In the previous film, dated 18 November, the militants said they would kill one of the men as a "first warning" unless the UK forces left Iraq within 10 days. | In the previous film, dated 18 November, the militants said they would kill one of the men as a "first warning" unless the UK forces left Iraq within 10 days. |
| The tape, filmed in front of an "Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq" flag, shows one man giving his name, saying he has been held for 173 days and adding: "I feel we have been forgotten." | The tape, filmed in front of an "Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq" flag, shows one man giving his name, saying he has been held for 173 days and adding: "I feel we have been forgotten." |
| "I call on those holding the hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally Gordon BrownPrime Minister | "I call on those holding the hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally Gordon BrownPrime Minister |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband responded to the latest tape by condemning kidnapping as "disgusting". | Foreign Secretary David Miliband responded to the latest tape by condemning kidnapping as "disgusting". |
| It "will cause deep distress and concern to the families of the five men", he added. | It "will cause deep distress and concern to the families of the five men", he added. |
| However, he said the government remained open to working with anyone who can help free the men. | However, he said the government remained open to working with anyone who can help free the men. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had raised the case of the five men with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri Maliki, during his visit to Baghdad. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he had raised the case of the five men with his Iraqi counterpart, Nouri Maliki, during his visit to Baghdad. |
| Mr Brown added: "I call on those holding the hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally." | Mr Brown added: "I call on those holding the hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally." |
| The hostages' friends and relatives marked the first anniversary of their capture in May by appealing for the hostages to be released. | The hostages' friends and relatives marked the first anniversary of their capture in May by appealing for the hostages to be released. |
| The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has always maintained that sensitive negotiations for the men's release are going on behind the scenes. | The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has always maintained that sensitive negotiations for the men's release are going on behind the scenes. |
| One of the hostages has been identified as Peter Moore, originally from Lincoln, who was working as a computer consultant. | One of the hostages has been identified as Peter Moore, originally from Lincoln, who was working as a computer consultant. |
| The identities of the four other men have not been confirmed. | The identities of the four other men have not been confirmed. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner warned that there were numerous reports that his colleague Alan Johnston was killed after he was kidnapped in Gaza - all of which turned out to be inaccurate. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner warned that there were numerous reports that his colleague Alan Johnston was killed after he was kidnapped in Gaza - all of which turned out to be inaccurate. |
| He added that the Iraqi captors appeared to want to do a prisoner exchange deal with the British government, and were not thought to be "bloodthirsty" in the same manner as al-Qaeda. | He added that the Iraqi captors appeared to want to do a prisoner exchange deal with the British government, and were not thought to be "bloodthirsty" in the same manner as al-Qaeda. |