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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tests continuing on Iraq bodies | Tests continuing on Iraq bodies |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Forensic tests are being carried out on human remains to see if they are the bodies of two men who were among five Britons captured in Iraq in May 2007. | |
| The bodies were handed over to UK officials by the Iraqi authorities. | The bodies were handed over to UK officials by the Iraqi authorities. |
| The mother of one, who cannot be named for security reasons, said she was "anxious" but "hoping for the best". | The mother of one, who cannot be named for security reasons, said she was "anxious" but "hoping for the best". |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was "very distressing" and a "terrible moment of uncertainty and fear" for the hostages' families. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was "very distressing" and a "terrible moment of uncertainty and fear" for the hostages' families. |
| Scientists will also try to establish how and when the two people died. | Scientists will also try to establish how and when the two people died. |
| There had been speculation earlier this year that a deal to free the men was close. | There had been speculation earlier this year that a deal to free the men was close. |
| 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 scenes to free them, including the release of a prisoner whose freedom was being demanded by the hostage-takers. | Security experts understood there had been positive diplomatic moves behind the scenes to free them, including the release of a prisoner whose freedom was being demanded by the hostage-takers. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband: "This is a terrible moment of uncertainty and fear" | Foreign Secretary David Miliband: "This is a terrible moment of uncertainty and fear" |
| Mr Miliband said: "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. | Mr Miliband said: "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. |
| "Our immediate thoughts are clearly with the families of the five Britons taken hostage in Baghdad in May 2007. | "Our immediate thoughts are clearly with the families of the five Britons taken hostage in Baghdad in May 2007. |
| "As would be the case with any development of this kind, they will fear the worst for their loved ones. | "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." | "This is terrible moment of uncertainty and fear for them." |
| An Foreign Office spokesman said everything was being done "to try and secure the safe release of (the) hostages." | An Foreign Office spokesman said everything was being done "to try and secure the safe release of (the) hostages." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "saddened and dismayed" by the news. | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was "saddened and dismayed" by the news. |
| The mother of one of the guards, who is from south Wales, said: "We are anxious about the situation, yes. | The mother of one of the guards, who is from south Wales, said: "We are anxious about the situation, yes. |
| "We have heard nothing new from the Foreign Office, but we are hoping for the best." | "We have heard nothing new from the Foreign Office, but we are hoping for the best." |
| Joe Gavaghan, a spokesman for the security company GardaWorld which employed the four guards, said families were not giving up hope. | Joe Gavaghan, a spokesman for the security company GardaWorld which employed the four guards, said families were not giving up hope. |
| He said: "The announcement is very concerning. We are certainly not giving up hope that Peter and our four security people are still alive." | He said: "The announcement is very concerning. We are certainly not giving up hope that Peter and our four security people are still alive." |
| 'Right policy' | 'Right policy' |
| Mr Miliband called for the immediate safe release of the remaining hostages. | Mr Miliband called for the immediate safe release of the remaining hostages. |
| He also praised the help the Iraqi authorities had given in attempts to free the Britons. | He also praised the help the Iraqi authorities had given in attempts to free the Britons. |
| He said he believed those involved in trying to gain the release of the two people whose remains had been handed over had "failed" and said hostage-taking was "never justified in any cause". | He said he believed those involved in trying to gain the release of the two people whose remains had been handed over had "failed" and said hostage-taking was "never justified in any cause". |
| Former hostage Terry Waite, who was held in Lebanon for four years, told the BBC that when he went to Beirut, he had insisted that no deal should be done if he was captured. | Former hostage Terry Waite, who was held in Lebanon for four years, told the BBC that when he went to Beirut, he had insisted that no deal should be done if he was captured. |
| "This actual policy of not doing deals, not getting into that sort of business with hostages, is in the long run a right policy, because if you do other sorts of deals you simply encourage further hostage taking," he said. | "This actual policy of not doing deals, not getting into that sort of business with hostages, is in the long run a right policy, because if you do other sorts of deals you simply encourage further hostage taking," he said. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
| Almost everyone involved in trying to resolve this, Britain's longest-running hostage crisis for a generation, is in shock. | Almost everyone involved in trying to resolve this, Britain's longest-running hostage crisis for a generation, is in shock. |
| Only a few days ago it was thought that most, if not all, of the five hostages were alive and well and would eventually be released. | Only a few days ago it was thought that most, if not all, of the five hostages were alive and well and would eventually be released. |
| In March the kidnappers had released a video of one hostage, Peter Moore, in which he appeared in good health and good spirits. | In March the kidnappers had released a video of one hostage, Peter Moore, in which he appeared in good health and good spirits. |
| On 6 June a key Shia militant linked to the kidnappers was released by the US military. It had been hoped this could pave the way for the Britons' release. | On 6 June a key Shia militant linked to the kidnappers was released by the US military. It had been hoped this could pave the way for the Britons' release. |
| Instead, the hostage-takers appear to have responded by delivering bodies. | Instead, the hostage-takers appear to have responded by delivering bodies. |
| But James Brandon, a freelance journalist who was held for 24 hours by militants in Basra in 2004, suggested Britain may need to alter its policy of never negotiating with hostage takers. | But James Brandon, a freelance journalist who was held for 24 hours by militants in Basra in 2004, suggested Britain may need to alter its policy of never negotiating with hostage takers. |
| "This has been the British government's policy for a long time, that you're not going to negotiate with these people, that you're not going to give in to their concessions," he told the BBC. | "This has been the British government's policy for a long time, that you're not going to negotiate with these people, that you're not going to give in to their concessions," he told the BBC. |
| "But at the same time this seems to be a strategy that isn't working at the moment. We've had British hostages kidnapped and killed in Iraq, and West Africa most recently. | "But at the same time this seems to be a strategy that isn't working at the moment. We've had British hostages kidnapped and killed in Iraq, and West Africa most recently. |
| "The present strategy isn't delivering results, it seems to be making life more dangerous for people, rather than safer." | "The present strategy isn't delivering results, it seems to be making life more dangerous for people, rather than safer." |
| Little is known about the identities of the men because of a media blackout during a large period of their captivity. | Little is known about the identities of the men because of a media blackout during a large period of their captivity. |
| The blackout originally came came on the instruction of the hostage-takers who said they did not want publicity. | The blackout originally came came on the instruction of the hostage-takers who said they did not want publicity. |
| 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. |
| The names of the four security guards are understood to be Jason, Alan, Jason and Alec. | The names of the four security guards are understood to be Jason, Alan, Jason and Alec. |
| Little else is known about them, other than that the guard Alan is from Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire and at least one other is from south Wales. | Little else is known about them, other than that the guard Alan is from Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire and at least one other is from south Wales. |