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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| UK hostages 'likely to be dead' | UK hostages 'likely to be dead' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Two more of the British hostages held in Iraq are now thought "very likely" to be dead, the BBC has learned. | Two more of the British hostages held in Iraq are now thought "very likely" to be dead, the BBC has learned. |
| Security guards Alan McMenemy, from Glasgow, and Alec Maclachlan, from south Wales, were kidnapped in 2007 along with three other Britons. | Security guards Alan McMenemy, from Glasgow, and Alec Maclachlan, from south Wales, were kidnapped in 2007 along with three other Britons. |
| The bodies of two of the other men were found last month with gunshot wounds. | The bodies of two of the other men were found last month with gunshot wounds. |
| The condition of the fifth man, Peter Moore, is not known. The Foreign Office says all efforts are being made to secure the hostages' release. | The condition of the fifth man, Peter Moore, is not known. The Foreign Office says all efforts are being made to secure the hostages' release. |
| Mr Moore had been working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq, while the other men were security contractors employed to guard him. | Mr Moore had been working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq, while the other men were security contractors employed to guard him. |
| The group were captured at Baghdad's Ministry of Finance in May 2007 by about 40 men disguised as Iraqi policemen. | The group were captured at Baghdad's Ministry of Finance in May 2007 by about 40 men disguised as Iraqi policemen. |
| They are understood to belong to an obscure militia known as Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq. | They are understood to belong to an obscure militia known as Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq. |
| Deal hopes | Deal hopes |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Foreign Office last week told the families of Mr McMenemy and Mr Maclachlan that the men had most likely died while in captivity. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Foreign Office last week told the families of Mr McMenemy and Mr Maclachlan that the men had most likely died while in captivity. |
| British officials are now understood to be focusing on IT consultant Mr Moore. | |
| The last proof of life sent by his kidnappers was a video handed over in March, but it is not known when the film was made or if he is still alive today. | |
| The Foreign Office refused to comment on the specifics of the case, saying it did not discuss operational details. | |
| The bodies of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were found in June | The bodies of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were found in June |
| However, a spokeswoman said: "We continue to work intensively for the release of the hostages still held in this highly complex case and are extremely concerned for their safety." | |
| The bodies of Mr Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Mr Creswell, from Glasgow, were flown back to the UK last month. | The bodies of Mr Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Mr Creswell, from Glasgow, were flown back to the UK last month. |
| News of their deaths came shortly after speculation that a deal to free all five men alive could be close. | News of their deaths came shortly after speculation that a deal to free all five men alive could be close. |
| Security experts understood there had been positive diplomatic moves behind the scenes, 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, including the release of a prisoner whose freedom was being demanded by the hostage-takers |
| Little is known about the captives because of a media blackout during a large period of their captivity. | Little is known about the captives 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. |
| This has been Britain's longest running hostage crisis for nearly 20 years. | This has been Britain's longest running hostage crisis for nearly 20 years. |