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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Two dead British hostages named | Two dead British hostages named |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The remains of two British security guards held hostage in Iraq for two years have been identified and named. | The remains of two British security guards held hostage in Iraq for two years have been identified and named. |
| They were highly likely to be those of Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, from Glasgow, the Foreign Office said. | |
| Their bodies were handed over to Iraqi authorities on Friday night and passed on to the British Embassy in Baghdad. | |
| Two other guards and the IT consultant they were protecting, Peter Moore, are still thought to be being held. | |
| Videos of captives | Videos of captives |
| Information Technology consultant Mr Moore, from Lincoln, and his guards were captured by armed militants at the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in May 2007. | |
| The kidnappers had previously claimed Mr Swindlehurst committed suicide in May 2008, but his family had said "Jason's not that sort of guy". | |
| "This is incredibly tough for the families because there really was so much optimism," BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said. "This was a blow out of nowhere." | |
| Frank Gardner, BBC security correspondent | Frank 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." |
| The Foreign Office said it had "grave concerns" over the safety of the three men still thought to be held. | |
| A spokeswoman said it informed the families of the dead men "with deep regret". | |
| "Our thoughts are with them at this sad time, and we ask that the media allow them privacy to deal with this news. We continue to do everything we can towards the safe release of the other hostages," she said. | |
| 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, the BBC's Frank Gardner said. | |
| Little is known about the the men because of a media blackout during a large period of their captivity. | Little is known about the 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. |
| Contractors | Contractors |
| 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 two other security guards are understood to be Alan, from Dumbarton, and Alec, from South Wales. | The names of the two other security guards are understood to be Alan, from Dumbarton, and Alec, from South Wales. |