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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Families await Iraq bodies tests | Families await Iraq bodies tests |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The families of five British men kidnapped in Baghdad are waiting for the results of tests on human remains passed to British diplomats in Iraq. | The families of five British men kidnapped in Baghdad are waiting for the results of tests on human remains passed to British diplomats in Iraq. |
| It is not yet clear whether they are the bodies of two of the men, who were seized by gunmen in May 2007. | It is not yet clear whether they are the bodies of two of the men, who were seized by gunmen in May 2007. |
| Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was a "terrible moment of uncertainty and fear" for relatives. | Foreign Secretary David Miliband said it was a "terrible moment of uncertainty and fear" for relatives. |
| Scientists will try to identify the two people and establish how and when they died, which seems to be some time ago. | Scientists will try to identify the two people and establish how and when they died, which seems to be some time ago. |
| The BBC correspondent Jim Muir, in Baghdad, said: "From what we've heard we can assume that these people had been dead for some time, and that is why it's going to be quite difficult to identify them." | The BBC correspondent Jim Muir, in Baghdad, said: "From what we've heard we can assume that these people had been dead for some time, and that is why it's going to be quite difficult to identify them." |
| 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. Five Iraq hostages: Timeline | Instead, the hostage-takers appear to have responded by delivering bodies. Five Iraq hostages: Timeline |
| The bodies were at Baghdad Airport, which could mean they are going to be flown to the UK for the forensic tests to be carried out, he added. | The bodies were at Baghdad Airport, which could mean they are going to be flown to the UK for the forensic tests to be carried out, he added. |
| The five contractors were seized by about 40 armed men wearing police uniforms at the Iraqi Finance Ministry. | The five contractors were seized by about 40 armed men wearing police uniforms at the Iraqi Finance Ministry. |
| Little is known about the identities of the men because of a media blackout during a large period of their captivity, at the request of the hostage-takers. | Little is known about the identities of the men because of a media blackout during a large period of their captivity, at the request of the hostage-takers. |
| One of the men is Peter Moore, an IT consultant from Lincoln who was working in Iraq for BearingPoint, an American management consultancy. | One of the men is Peter Moore, an IT consultant from Lincoln who was working in Iraq for BearingPoint, an American management consultancy. |
| The four other men, understood to be named Jason, Alan, Jason and Alec, were Mr Moore's security guards, employed by the Canadian security firm GardaWorld. | The four other men, understood to be named Jason, Alan, Jason and Alec, were Mr Moore's security guards, employed by the Canadian security firm GardaWorld. |
| The militants have released various videos of the captives. The first asked for British troops to withdraw from Iraq, the second demanded the release of nine Iraqi militants and the third claimed one of the guards had killed himself. | The militants have released various videos of the captives. The first asked for British troops to withdraw from Iraq, the second demanded the release of nine Iraqi militants and the third claimed one of the guards had killed himself. |
| The captors are a group called the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq. | The 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." |
| Mr Miliband called for the immediate safe release of the remaining hostages. | Mr Miliband called for the immediate safe release of the remaining 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, Alec 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." |