This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk/8111502.stm

The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
British hostage bodies identified Two dead British hostages named
(about 1 hour later)
The bodies of two British hostages handed over in Iraq have been identified, the BBC has learned. The remains of two British security guards held hostage in Iraq for two years have been identified and named.
The families have been told, and are being given time to inform relatives, the BBC's Frank Gardner said. They were "highly likely" to be those of Jason Swindlehurst from Skelmersdale, and Jason Creswell, from Glasgow, the Foreign Office said.
The identified remains, which are still in Baghdad, belong to two of the four security guards protecting IT worker Peter Moore, the Foreign Office said. The men were handed over to Iraqi authorities on Friday night and passed on to the British Embassy in Baghdad.
Mr Moore, from Lincoln, and his guards were captured by armed militants at the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in 2007. They were two of four guards protecting IT consultant Peter Moore when armed militants captured all five in 2007.
Videos of captivesVideos of captives
Mr Moore, from Lincoln, and his guards were seized at the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad.
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."
Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondentFrank Gardner, BBC security correspondent
"It does appear the two hostages died some time ago."It does appear the two hostages died some time ago.
It's not yet known how they died, and we've got to keep an open mind on this until the coroner decides how they died.It's not yet known how they died, and we've got to keep an open mind on this until the coroner decides how they died.
They could have been executed, they could have died trying to escape, they could have died of starvation.They could have been executed, they could have died trying to escape, they could have died of starvation.
The kidnappers always maintained that one of the prisoners in their care committed suicide."The kidnappers always maintained that one of the prisoners in their care committed suicide."
It is 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.It is 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.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 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 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.
ContractorsContractors
Frank Gardner said some people would question the British government's policy of not making substantive concessions to kidnappers for fear it encouraged further kidnapping.Frank Gardner said some people would question the British government's policy of not making substantive concessions to kidnappers for fear it encouraged further kidnapping.
He said: "There are really two issues here. One is 'should Britain do deals'? the other is 'should this campaign have been louder rather than softly, softly'?He said: "There are really two issues here. One is 'should Britain do deals'? the other is 'should this campaign have been louder rather than softly, softly'?
"Of course it's not over yet and the aim and focus now for those involved in this is to get the three others out, but I think questions are going to be asked about whether the right approach has been taken.""Of course it's not over yet and the aim and focus now for those involved in this is to get the three others out, but I think questions are going to be asked about whether the right approach has been taken."
But the British policy has been praised by some North African countries, who criticised other European nations for paying huge ransom to kidnappers.But the British policy has been praised by some North African countries, who criticised other European nations for paying huge ransom to kidnappers.
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 two other security guards are understood to be Alan, from Dumbarton, and Alec, 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.