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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| British hostage bodies identified | British hostage bodies identified |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The bodies of two British hostages handed over in Iraq have been identified, the BBC has learned. | The bodies of two British hostages handed over in Iraq have been identified, the BBC has learned. |
| The families have been told, and are being given time to inform their relatives, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said. | The families have been told, and are being given time to inform their relatives, the BBC's security correspondent Frank Gardner said. |
| The names of the two hostages are expected to be released later today. | The names of the two hostages are expected to be released later today. |
| 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. |
| Videos of captives | Videos of captives |
| The Foreign Office said it had "grave concerns" over the safety of the three other men still thought to be held by the kidnappers, our correspondent said. | The Foreign Office said it had "grave concerns" over the safety of the three other men still thought to be held by the kidnappers, our correspondent said. |
| "This is incredibly tough for the families because there really was so much optimism," he added. "This was a blow out of nowhere." | "This is incredibly tough for the families because there really was so much optimism," he added. "This was a blow out of nowhere." |
| He said there is speculation the men may have been executed, could have been killed while trying to escape, or had died from starvation. | He said there is speculation the men may have been executed, could have been killed while trying to escape, or had died from starvation. |
| He added the kidnappers had maintained one of the men had committed suicide last year, but this had never been confirmed. | He added the kidnappers had maintained one of the men had committed suicide last year, but this had never been confirmed. |
| It's possible the handover of the bodies could be seen as a trade-off for the release of a militant, Laith al-Khazali, on 6 June. | |
| His freedom had been a stipulation for the hostages being freed, Frank Gardner said. | |
| The remains of the two dead men were handed over to Iraqi authorities on Friday night, and were then passed on to the British Embassy in Iraq. | |
| 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. |
| Contractors | Contractors |
| The blackout originally came on the instruction of the hostage-takers who said they did not want publicity. | The blackout originally came on the instruction of the hostage-takers who said they did not want publicity. |
| 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 Scotland 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 Scotland and at least one other is from South Wales. |