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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| PM calls for Iraq hostage release | PM calls for Iraq hostage release |
| (about 23 hours later) | |
| Gordon Brown has called for the release of five British hostages held in Iraq, after the release of a video claiming that one has killed himself. | |
| The prime minister, who is visiting Israel, described the video as "abhorrent" and said it would only add to the anguish of the men's families. | The prime minister, who is visiting Israel, described the video as "abhorrent" and said it would only add to the anguish of the men's families. |
| The tape, purporting to come from the kidnappers, alleges that a man known as Jason died on 25 May 2008. | The tape, purporting to come from the kidnappers, alleges that a man known as Jason died on 25 May 2008. |
| The men were kidnapped in May 2007 by militants disguised as police officers. | The men were kidnapped in May 2007 by militants disguised as police officers. |
| So far, British officials say they are not able to corroborate the claims. | So far, British officials say they are not able to corroborate the claims. |
| Discussions | Discussions |
| Speaking between meetings with Israeli and Palestinian leaders in Jerusalem, Mr Brown said he had discussed the kidnappings with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki during a visit to Baghdad on Saturday. | |
| He said he had also raised the issue with "Americans and others who are active in Iraq". | He said he had also raised the issue with "Americans and others who are active in Iraq". |
| Said Mr Brown: "I call on the hostage-takers to release those people who have been held in captivity immediately. | Said Mr Brown: "I call on the hostage-takers to release those people who have been held in captivity immediately. |
| "We will work with the Iraqi government... to secure their release, and we will do everything in our power to work with all those who are in a position to help us release these hostages. | |
| "These men have suffered enough." | |
| Gordon Brown's call for the hostages to be released | Gordon Brown's call for the hostages to be released |
| It is understood that the man alleged to have committed suicide is the same Jason who appeared in a previous video, which was released by the kidnappers in December. | It is understood that the man alleged to have committed suicide is the same Jason who appeared in a previous video, which was released by the kidnappers in December. |
| His family are said to have been informed last week. | His family are said to have been informed last week. |
| 'Foot-dragging' | |
| The four bodyguards and a computer expert have been missing since they were snatched from the Finance Ministry in Baghdad. | |
| Around 40 men dressed as Iraqi police officers entered the building, while official-looking vehicles blocked the roads outside. | Around 40 men dressed as Iraqi police officers entered the building, while official-looking vehicles blocked the roads outside. |
| 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. |
| A statement claiming to come from the captors, who call themselves the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq, 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," said the statement. | "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," said the statement. |
| "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." |
| A video passed to the Sunday Times contained distressing news | A video passed to the Sunday Times contained distressing news |
| 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. | 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." |
| But he makes no reference to Jason's alleged suicide. | But he makes no reference to Jason's alleged suicide. |
| Two occasions | Two occasions |
| According to the Sunday Times, an intermediary who handed the video to its representative said Jason had attempted suicide on two previous occasions. | According to the Sunday Times, an intermediary who handed the video to its representative said Jason 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. |
| 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." |
| The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, has described the claims in the latest tape as "disgusting". | |
| But he said the government remained open to working with anyone who can help free the men. | But he said the government remained open to working with anyone who can help free the men. |
| Sensitive negotiations | Sensitive negotiations |
| 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 BBC 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. |