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| 'Upset' at hostage death reports | |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| The families of five Britons kidnapped in Iraq say they are "deeply upset" to hear two more of the men are likely to have died in captivity. | |
| Government sources told the BBC that security guards Alan McMenemy, from Glasgow, and Alec Maclachlan, from south Wales, were believed dead. | Government sources told the BBC that security guards Alan McMenemy, from Glasgow, and Alec Maclachlan, from south Wales, were believed dead. |
| They were kidnapped in 2007 with three others, two of whom have since been shot and their bodies released. | They were kidnapped in 2007 with three others, two of whom have since been shot and their bodies released. |
| The condition of the fifth man, Peter Moore, from Lincoln, remains unknown. | The condition of the fifth man, Peter Moore, from Lincoln, remains unknown. |
| The Foreign Office says it is still trying to secure the release of all the remaining men. | The Foreign Office says it is still trying to secure the release of all the remaining men. |
| Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said British officials were doing their "absolute level best" through a variety of channels to bring the hostages to safety. | Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said British officials were doing their "absolute level best" through a variety of channels to bring the hostages to safety. |
| 'Extremely concerned' | 'Extremely concerned' |
| But he added: "I don't disguise the fact that we are extremely concerned for the safety of the hostages." | But he added: "I don't disguise the fact that we are extremely concerned for the safety of the hostages." |
| The BBC understands that officials told the families of Mr McMenemy and Mr Maclachlan last week that they had probably been killed in captivity. | The BBC understands that officials told the families of Mr McMenemy and Mr Maclachlan last week that they had probably been killed in captivity. |
| A statement from all the families said: "We are all deeply upset and troubled to hear the reports that Alec and Alan have died in the hands of their captors, as well as Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell. | A statement from all the families said: "We are all deeply upset and troubled to hear the reports that Alec and Alan have died in the hands of their captors, as well as Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner |
| The revelation that four out of the five British hostages in Iraq are now thought to be dead will inevitably prompt questions as to how the Foreign Office has handled this. | The revelation that four out of the five British hostages in Iraq are now thought to be dead will inevitably prompt questions as to how the Foreign Office has handled this. |
| Britain has a longstanding policy of "not making substantive concessions to kidnappers" as the government believes it only encourages more kidnapping. | Britain has a longstanding policy of "not making substantive concessions to kidnappers" as the government believes it only encourages more kidnapping. |
| But that does not rule out secret, behind-the-scenes negotiations and earlier this year there were encouraging signs of progress. | But that does not rule out secret, behind-the-scenes negotiations and earlier this year there were encouraging signs of progress. |
| It was hoped that with the gradual normalisation of Iraq's political scene the kidnappers would be persuaded to release their captives and that the US, which is drawing down its forces in Iraq, would gradually empty detention centres and hand over prisoners to Iraq's government. | It was hoped that with the gradual normalisation of Iraq's political scene the kidnappers would be persuaded to release their captives and that the US, which is drawing down its forces in Iraq, would gradually empty detention centres and hand over prisoners to Iraq's government. |
| But it seems the kidnappers, while negotiating, had already murdered some of their British captives. | But it seems the kidnappers, while negotiating, had already murdered some of their British captives. |
| They are likely to demand concessions before handing over the bodies of the latest victims. | They are likely to demand concessions before handing over the bodies of the latest victims. |
| "This is a terrible ordeal for us all. | "This is a terrible ordeal for us all. |
| "We ask those holding our men for compassion when so many are working hard for reconciliation in Iraq and we continue to pray for the safe return of our men." | "We ask those holding our men for compassion when so many are working hard for reconciliation in Iraq and we continue to pray for the safe return of our men." |
| IT consultant Mr Moore, 36, had been working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq. The other men were security contractors employed to guard him. | IT consultant Mr Moore, 36, had been working for American management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq. 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, which has demanded the release of up to nine of their associates held in US military custody since early 2007. | They are understood to belong to an obscure militia known as Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq, which has demanded the release of up to nine of their associates held in US military custody since early 2007. |
| BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the kidnappers declared a month ago, when handing over the bodies of the two other security guards - Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst - that they had two more bodies. | BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said the kidnappers declared a month ago, when handing over the bodies of the two other security guards - Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst - that they had two more bodies. |
| While the claims could not initially be verified, government sources said the Foreign Office now believed them to be true and was focusing on securing the release of Mr Moore, our correspondent added. | While the claims could not initially be verified, government sources said the Foreign Office now believed them to be true and was focusing on securing the release of Mr Moore, our correspondent added. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. |
| "There's not much we can do, we feel so helpless." | "There's not much we can do, we feel so helpless." |
| 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. | 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. |
| 'Lottery' | 'Lottery' |
| "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." |
| The Foreign Office said it would not discuss operational details of the case. | The Foreign Office said it would not discuss operational details of the case. |
| 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 Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were found in June | The bodies of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst were found in June |
| 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 have been acting as lead negotiator. | The Foreign Office insists the British government has not been directly involved in negotiations and that the Iraqi authorities have been acting as lead negotiator. |
| 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. |
| It originally came on the instruction of the hostage-takers who said they did not want publicity. | It 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. |