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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| 'Free Iraq hostages,' says Brown | 'Free Iraq hostages,' says Brown |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for the immediate release of five British hostages kidnapped in Iraq six months ago. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called for the immediate release of five British hostages kidnapped in Iraq six months ago. |
| He said the taking of hostages would not change British policy in Iraq and the government would do everything in its power to secure their release. | |
| On Tuesday a video tape of the Britons, who were kidnapped in Baghdad in May, was broadcast. | On Tuesday a video tape of the Britons, who were kidnapped in Baghdad in May, was broadcast. |
| The next day their families and friends issued an emotional message of support. | The next day their families and friends issued an emotional message of support. |
| 'Bravery and resilience' | 'Bravery and resilience' |
| The prime minister said his first thoughts were with the five hostages and with their families. | The prime minister said his first thoughts were with the five hostages and with their families. |
| He said they had endured "an enormous" amount over the last six months and he wanted to thank them for their "bravery and resilience". | He said they had endured "an enormous" amount over the last six months and he wanted to thank them for their "bravery and resilience". |
| The taking of hostages is completely unjustified, wholly unacceptable Prime Minister Gordon Brown | The taking of hostages is completely unjustified, wholly unacceptable Prime Minister Gordon Brown |
| He said: "We will do everything in our power to secure our objective, which is the immediate release of the hostages." | He said: "We will do everything in our power to secure our objective, which is the immediate release of the hostages." |
| Mr Brown paid tribute to the Iraqi government for its efforts to try to secure the hostages' freedom and added: "We will give them our full support." | Mr Brown paid tribute to the Iraqi government for its efforts to try to secure the hostages' freedom and added: "We will give them our full support." |
| The five men - four guards and a computer expert - were seized in May from Baghdad's finance ministry building by gunmen disguised as police officers. | The five men - four guards and a computer expert - were seized in May from Baghdad's finance ministry building by gunmen disguised as police officers. |
| A militia group calling itself the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq is now holding them captive. | A militia group calling itself the Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq is now holding them captive. |
| The video tape of the men, dated 18 November, contains a threat that one of them will be killed unless UK forces are withdrawn from Iraq. | The video tape of the men, dated 18 November, contains a threat that one of them will be killed unless UK forces are withdrawn from Iraq. |
| 'Completely unacceptable' | 'Completely unacceptable' |
| The message issued by their families encourages the men to stay strong and positive in the face of adversity. | The message issued by their families encourages the men to stay strong and positive in the face of adversity. |
| It states: "You are constantly in our thoughts. While the pain of missing you does not go away we are all staying positive for you and hope that you are looking after yourselves and keeping your spirits up as much as you can under such circumstances." | It states: "You are constantly in our thoughts. While the pain of missing you does not go away we are all staying positive for you and hope that you are looking after yourselves and keeping your spirits up as much as you can under such circumstances." |
| The prime minister said: "The taking of hostages is completely unjustified, wholly unacceptable and we are making it clear they will not change our policy in any way. | The prime minister said: "The taking of hostages is completely unjustified, wholly unacceptable and we are making it clear they will not change our policy in any way. |
| "I want the hostage takers to accept their responsibility, to understand the consequences of what they are doing, to make possible the immediate release of the hostages, to allow them to come home at the earliest opportunity. | "I want the hostage takers to accept their responsibility, to understand the consequences of what they are doing, to make possible the immediate release of the hostages, to allow them to come home at the earliest opportunity. |
| Gordon Brown is demanding the release of all five hostages | |
| "We will do everything in our power. The taking of hostages is completely unacceptable. We are demanding the immediate release." | "We will do everything in our power. The taking of hostages is completely unacceptable. We are demanding the immediate release." |
| The Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, told Sky News it was a "very dangerous situation" and it would be wrong for him to get into a "running commentary" on what the government was doing. | |
| He said: "It's important that publicity is never confused with activity. And especially in a case like this, its very, very important that we follow a very careful strategy. | |
| "The distress of the families is going to be huge. It's bad enough to have the hostage taking. | |
| "To then have the video coming out last week is just going to add hugely, has added hugely to the distress. | |
| "But the whole of the British government is working very, very actively on this. The prime minister's statement refers to this." |