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| UK hostages 'likely to be dead' | UK hostages 'likely to be dead' |
| (21 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 was captured at Baghdad's Ministry of Finance in May 2007 by about 40 men disguised as Iraqi policemen. | The group was 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 Shia Resistance in Iraq. | They are understood to belong to an obscure militia known as Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq. |
| There's not much we can do - we feel so helpless Edna Moore, grandmother of hostage Peter Moore | There's not much we can do - we feel so helpless Edna Moore, grandmother of hostage Peter Moore |
| The group has been demanding the release of up to nine of their associates held in US military custody since early 2007. | The group has been demanding the release of up to nine of their associates held in US military custody since early 2007. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Foreign Office told the families of Mr McMenemy and Mr Maclachlan last week that the men had most likely died while in captivity. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the Foreign Office told the families of Mr McMenemy and Mr Maclachlan last week that the men had most likely died while in captivity. |
| And he revealed the kidnappers told the British government a month ago they had two more bodies. | And he revealed the kidnappers told the British government a month ago they had two more bodies. |
| "At the time the hostage-takers handed over the bodies of the two other security guards - Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst - they let it be known that they had two more bodies," he said. | "At the time the hostage-takers handed over the bodies of the two other security guards - Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst - they let it be known that they had two more bodies," he said. |
| "They have made many claims and counter-claims and that couldn't be verified immediately. The Foreign Office is now pretty certain that it's true." | "They have made many claims and counter-claims and that couldn't be verified immediately. The Foreign Office is now pretty certain that it's true." |
| Government sources had told our correspondent that the focus was now on negotiating the release of IT consultant Mr Moore. | Government sources had told our correspondent that the focus was now on negotiating the release of 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 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. |
| 'Only hope' | 'Only hope' |
| His grandmother, Edna Moore, 84, of Wigston, Leicestershire, said the family could "only hope" for Mr Moore's safe return. | His grandmother, Edna Moore, 84, of Wigston, Leicestershire, said the family could "only hope" for Mr Moore's safe return. |
| "God help the other families. There's not much we can do, we feel so helpless. | "God help the other families. There's not much we can do, we feel so helpless. |
| "It's terrible, you try to look on the bright side and that's hammering at your brain all the time." | "It's terrible, you try to look on the bright side and that's hammering at your brain all the time." |
| Mr Moore's estranged father, Graeme Moore, 59, who was not a nominated next-of-kin and had not seen his son for several years, criticised the Foreign Office's handling of the case. | |
| He said he could only hope that his son was being treated as a "civilian" rather than a security worker. | He said he could only hope that his son was being treated as a "civilian" rather than a security worker. |
| "It is just a lottery at the moment as to what happens," he said. | "It is just a lottery at the moment as to what happens," he said. |
| "This just proves that the Foreign Office has mishandled it. There were rumours two weeks ago that the two bodyguards had been shot dead." | "This just proves that the Foreign Office has mishandled it. There were rumours two weeks ago that the two bodyguards had been shot dead." |
| Rev Pauline Barnett, who knows Mr Maclachlan's family, said: "This is dreadful news. If this is true then we are devastated, it's an awful conclusion. | Rev Pauline Barnett, who knows Mr Maclachlan's family, said: "This is dreadful news. If this is true then we are devastated, it's an awful conclusion. |
| "We've been praying for the family and hoping there would be a good ending to this story." | "We've been praying for the family and hoping there would be a good ending to this story." |
| The bodies of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were found in June | The bodies of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were found in June |
| The Foreign Office refused to comment on the specifics of the case, saying it did not discuss operational details. | The Foreign Office refused to comment on the specifics of the case, saying it did not discuss operational details. |
| 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." | 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 - from detention by the Americans. | 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 - from detention by the Americans. |
| The Foreign Office insists the British government has not been directly involved in negotiations and that the Iraqi authorities acted as lead negotiator. | The Foreign Office insists the British government has not been directly involved in negotiations and that the Iraqi authorities acted as lead negotiator. |
| But BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said: "All the time [the kidnappers] were carrying on these discussions, cynically, they already knew they had dead bodies on their hands - two, possibly four." | But BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said: "All the time [the kidnappers] were carrying on these discussions, cynically, they already knew they had dead bodies on their hands - two, possibly four." |
| 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. |