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Released hostage 'held in Iran' Released hostage 'held in Iran'
(about 2 hours later)
Iran organised the kidnapping in Iraq of British hostage Peter Moore - freed on Wednesday after two-and-a-half years in captivity - it has been claimed. Five Britons kidnapped in Iraq -including Peter Moore who was freed on Wednesday after two-and-a-half years - were held in Iran, it has been claimed.
The Guardian newspaper says Mr Moore and his four bodyguards were taken to a camp inside Iran within a day. Mr Moore and his four bodyguards were taken to a camp in Iran within a day of being seized, says the Guardian paper.
Three of the bodyguards were killed; the fourth is also thought to be dead.Three of the bodyguards were killed; the fourth is also thought to be dead.
There are suggestions that Mr Moore was seized because his IT work was designed to show aid flowing into Iraq was being diverted to groups supported by Iran. There are suggestions Mr Moore was seized because his IT work was designed to show aid flowing into Iraq was being diverted to groups supported by Iran.
BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said when he asked US General David Petraeus - the US's top military commander in the region - for his view this month, he said he thought "it was 90% certain" the Britons had been held in Iran.BBC security correspondent Frank Gardner said when he asked US General David Petraeus - the US's top military commander in the region - for his view this month, he said he thought "it was 90% certain" the Britons had been held in Iran.
You don't think for a moment that those militia groups from Sadr City could have carried out a high-level kidnapping like this one Iraqi government minister quoted anonymously in the Guardian Profile: Iran's Revolutionary GuardsYou don't think for a moment that those militia groups from Sadr City could have carried out a high-level kidnapping like this one Iraqi government minister quoted anonymously in the Guardian Profile: Iran's Revolutionary Guards
The Guardian quoted an unnamed former Revolutionary Guard saying: "It was an Iranian kidnap, led by the Revolutionary Guard, carried out by the al-Quds brigade. But he added that this was "not same as saying that this was directed from the top by the Iranian leadership".
The Guardian quoted an unnamed former Revolutionary Guard saying: "It was an Iranian kidnap, led by the Revolutionary Guard, carried out by the al-Quds brigade.
"My contact works for al-Quds. He took part in the planning of the kidnap and he watched the kidnapping as it was taking place. He told me that they spent two days at the Qasser Shiereen camp. They then took them deep inside Iran.""My contact works for al-Quds. He took part in the planning of the kidnap and he watched the kidnapping as it was taking place. He told me that they spent two days at the Qasser Shiereen camp. They then took them deep inside Iran."
The newspaper also said a serving Iraqi government minister with close links to Iran had told its reporter it was an Iranian Revolutionary Guard operation.The newspaper also said a serving Iraqi government minister with close links to Iran had told its reporter it was an Iranian Revolutionary Guard operation.
"You don't think for a moment that those militia groups from Sadr City could have carried out a high-level kidnapping like this one," he is quoted as saying."You don't think for a moment that those militia groups from Sadr City could have carried out a high-level kidnapping like this one," he is quoted as saying.
Frank Gardner said the newspaper's investigation did not provide conclusive proof the men were taken to Iran. One man named in the Guardian as the chief negotiator who allegedly flew to Iran several times to talk with the hostage-takers has denied Iran had any involvement.
Sami al-Askari - an MP and a senior adviser to Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki - also denied to the BBC he had flown to Iran for negotiations.
He said he had been involved in talks with the kidnap group in Iraq, which were continuing over the whereabouts of the final hostage Alan McMenemy, who is thought to be dead.
Frank Gardner said the Guardian's investigation did not provide conclusive proof the men were taken to Iran.
But he said the witnesses appeared to be credible and some had been re-interviewed by the BBC.But he said the witnesses appeared to be credible and some had been re-interviewed by the BBC.
Fran and Pauline Sweeney said Mr Moore "sounded well and was cracking jokes" He said it had long been known the Shia group who had been holding the men had links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
He said it had long been known that the Shia group who had been holding the men had links to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
"But British officials have always been reluctant to point the finger at Iran," he added."But British officials have always been reluctant to point the finger at Iran," he added.
The Foreign Office said it had no evidence to back up the claims. He said it was thought that the kidnappers had separated Peter Moore from his four bodyguards early on in the process.
"We are not in a position to say with any certainty where they were held during each and every single day of their two-and-a-half years in captivity," a spokesman said. It was "perfectly possible" that Mr Moore would not know where he or the others were held, he added.
Hostages' bodiesHostages' bodies
The Foreign Office said it had no evidence to back up the claims about Iran.
"We are not in a position to say with any certainty where they were held during each and every single day of their two-and-a-half years in captivity," a spokesman said.
On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the IT consultant from Lincoln, who was captured in Baghdad in May 2007, was in good health and "absolutely delighted" to be free.On Wednesday, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the IT consultant from Lincoln, who was captured in Baghdad in May 2007, was in good health and "absolutely delighted" to be free.
Mr Moore spent the night at the British Embassy in Baghdad, where he is receiving medical attention and support as he prepares to return to the UK. He will also receive formal debriefing sessions.
The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, of Glasgow, were returned to the UK in June 2009, followed by that of Alec MacLachlan, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, in September.The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, of Glasgow, were returned to the UK in June 2009, followed by that of Alec MacLachlan, of Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, in September.
Mr Miliband said British officials believed the fourth guard - Alan McMenemy from Glasgow - was probably also dead and called for the immediate release of his body.Mr Miliband said British officials believed the fourth guard - Alan McMenemy from Glasgow - was probably also dead and called for the immediate release of his body.
Mr Moore was in the British Embassy in Baghdad and would be reunited with his family as soon as possible, Mr Miliband said. Fran and Pauline Sweeney said Mr Moore "sounded well and was cracking jokes"
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "He is seeing a doctor and speaking to people there. Our main priority is his welfare and to look after him and ensure he is in as fit a state as he can be. That will come before any formal debriefing sessions."
David Miliband: "I am pleased to confirm that Peter Moore has been released today"
Mr Moore had been working for US management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq. The other men were security contractors employed to guard him.Mr Moore had been working for US management consultancy Bearingpoint in Iraq. The other men were security contractors employed to guard him.
The group was captured at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance by about 40 men disguised as Iraqi policemen.The group was captured at the Iraqi Ministry of Finance by about 40 men disguised as Iraqi policemen.
They were understood to belong to an obscure militia known as the Islamic Shia Resistance, which demanded the release of up to nine of their associates held in US military custody since early 2007.They were understood to belong to an obscure militia known as the Islamic Shia Resistance, which demanded the release of up to nine of their associates held in US military custody since early 2007.
Several had already been handed to the Iraqi government and some had since been freed under the reconciliation process.Several had already been handed to the Iraqi government and some had since been freed under the reconciliation process.
Frank Gardner said a senior Whitehall official had confirmed that Qais Al-Khazaali - the leader of the group that kidnapped the five Britons in Baghdad - was released "very recently" by the US to the Iraqi authorities. Mr Miliband has insisted no "substantive concessions" were made to the hostage-takers by the UK.
Frank Gardner said a senior Whitehall official had confirmed Qais Al-Khazaali - the leader of the group that kidnapped the five Britons in Baghdad - was released "very recently" by the US to the Iraqi authorities.
"The main person the abductors wanted back, I'm told, is out of US custody... and handed over to the Iraqis," he said."The main person the abductors wanted back, I'm told, is out of US custody... and handed over to the Iraqis," he said.
Qais Al-Khazaali had been suspected of involvement in the kidnapping and eventual killing of five US soldiers, our correspondent added.Qais Al-Khazaali had been suspected of involvement in the kidnapping and eventual killing of five US soldiers, our correspondent added.