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Fear Iraq bodies are UK hostages Fear Iraq bodies are UK hostages
(9 minutes later)
Two bodies feared to be those of British hostages held in Iraq have been handed to authorities, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.Two bodies feared to be those of British hostages held in Iraq have been handed to authorities, Foreign Secretary David Miliband has said.
Mr Miliband said forensic tests were being carried out on the remains to see if they were of the British hostages captured in Iraq in May 2007. Mr Miliband said forensic tests were being carried out on the remains to see if they were of the Britons who were captured in Iraq in May 2007.
He said his thoughts were with the families of the five men and said "they will fear the worst". He said his thoughts were with the families of the five men and "they will fear the worst for their loved ones".
"This is terrible moment of uncertainty and fear for them," Mr Miliband said. There had been speculation earlier this year a deal to free the men was close.
He described it as a "very distressing development". 'Distressing development'
Videos released
IT consultant Peter Moore, from Lincoln, and four security guards were captured by armed militants at the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in 2007.IT consultant Peter Moore, from Lincoln, and four security guards were captured by armed militants at the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in 2007.
Their captors are a group called the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq.Their captors are a group called the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq.
Security experts understood there had been positive diplomatic moves behind the scene to free them.
Mr Miliband said: "This is a very distressing development.
"We have never speculated on the outcome of this case although we have been working intensively on it, so the overriding feeling today is one of deep sadness and fear."
He said forensic examinations are under way to establish the identities of the bodies and how they died.
"Our immediate thoughts are clearly with the families of the five Britons taken hostage in Baghdad in May 2007," he said.
"As would be the case with any development of this kind, they will fear the worst for their loved ones.
"This is terrible moment of uncertainty and fear for them."
The militants have released videos of the captives, including one - broadcast on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya - warning that a hostage would be killed unless British troops withdrew from Iraq.The militants have released videos of the captives, including one - broadcast on Dubai-based TV station Al-Arabiya - warning that a hostage would be killed unless British troops withdrew from Iraq.
Mr Moore had been working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint when he was kidnapped, while the other men were contractors employed to guard him.Mr Moore had been working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint when he was kidnapped, while the other men were contractors employed to guard him.