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| Kidnapped Britons tape condemned | Kidnapped Britons tape condemned |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The UK government has condemned a videotape issued by the kidnappers of five British men held captive in Iraq. | The UK government has condemned a videotape issued by the kidnappers of five British men held captive in Iraq. |
| A Foreign Office spokesman said the tape would "add to the distress of the men's families and friends". | A Foreign Office spokesman said the tape would "add to the distress of the men's families and friends". |
| In the film, dated 18 November, the kidnappers say they will kill one of the men as a "first warning" unless UK forces leave Iraq within 10 days. | In the film, dated 18 November, the kidnappers say they will kill one of the men as a "first warning" unless UK forces leave Iraq within 10 days. |
| The five men were seized on 29 May from Baghdad's finance ministry building by gunmen disguised as police officers. | The five men were seized on 29 May from Baghdad's finance ministry building by gunmen disguised as police officers. |
| They are being held by a militia group calling itself the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq. | They are being held by a militia group calling itself the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq. |
| No matter what the cause, hostage-taking can never be justified Foreign Office spokesman | |
| The tape, which the Foreign Office is studying, is in Arabic and was broadcast on Al-Arabiya television on Tuesday. | The tape, which the Foreign Office is studying, is in Arabic and was broadcast on Al-Arabiya television on Tuesday. |
| The Britons - four guards and a computer expert - were initially taken to a Shia suburb after being seized. | The Britons - four guards and a computer expert - were initially taken to a Shia suburb after being seized. |
| Consular officials had remained in regular contact with the families of the men, the spokesman added. | Consular officials had remained in regular contact with the families of the men, the spokesman added. |
| 'Ordinary men' | 'Ordinary men' |
| In the tape, filmed in front of an "Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq" flag, one of the men gives his name, says he has been held for 173 days and adds that "no-one seems to care". | In the tape, filmed in front of an "Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq" flag, one of the men gives his name, says he has been held for 173 days and adds that "no-one seems to care". |
| The kidnappers say the UK should "withdraw all the thieves and the gangs that they have brought with them to plunder and squander our wealth and resources, and to return what they have stolen". | The kidnappers say the UK should "withdraw all the thieves and the gangs that they have brought with them to plunder and squander our wealth and resources, and to return what they have stolen". |
| We miss them so much and want them to come home to us so that our families can be complete again and our children no longer have to endure the pain of missing their fathers Earlier statement from families | We miss them so much and want them to come home to us so that our families can be complete again and our children no longer have to endure the pain of missing their fathers Earlier statement from families |
| It warns that if the UK does not meet its demands, "this hostage will be executed on day number 10 as a first warning, then other details that you will not like will be made public". | It warns that if the UK does not meet its demands, "this hostage will be executed on day number 10 as a first warning, then other details that you will not like will be made public". |
| The Foreign Office spokesman said: "No matter what the cause, hostage-taking can never be justified. | The Foreign Office spokesman said: "No matter what the cause, hostage-taking can never be justified. |
| "We again call on those holding the men to release them unconditionally." | "We again call on those holding the men to release them unconditionally." |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that, up until now, the Foreign Office has not wanted to discuss the kidnapping because officials do not want anything to get in the way of their negotiations through third parties to get the men released. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said that, up until now, the Foreign Office has not wanted to discuss the kidnapping because officials do not want anything to get in the way of their negotiations through third parties to get the men released. |
| In September, the families of the five men urged their captors to end their "torment" of being separated from "ordinary family men". | In September, the families of the five men urged their captors to end their "torment" of being separated from "ordinary family men". |
| The statement continued: "They are sons, fathers and brothers who were working to support us - their families. | The statement continued: "They are sons, fathers and brothers who were working to support us - their families. |
| "We miss them so much and want them to come home to us so that our families can be complete again and our children no longer have to endure the pain of missing their fathers." | "We miss them so much and want them to come home to us so that our families can be complete again and our children no longer have to endure the pain of missing their fathers." |