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Body of Iraq kidnap victim Alan McMenemy handed over Body of Iraq kidnap victim Alan McMenemy handed over
(40 minutes later)
The British Embassy in Baghdad has confirmed that a body handed over to them is that of Alan McMenemy, who was kidnapped in Iraq in 2007.The British Embassy in Baghdad has confirmed that a body handed over to them is that of Alan McMenemy, who was kidnapped in Iraq in 2007.
Mr McMenemy, a security guard from Glasgow, was snatched along with three other guards and an IT expert.Mr McMenemy, a security guard from Glasgow, was snatched along with three other guards and an IT expert.
The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, Jason Creswell and Alec MacLachlan were returned in 2009. Peter Moore was released alive in 2010.The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, Jason Creswell and Alec MacLachlan were returned in 2009. Peter Moore was released alive in 2010.
Mr McMenemy's wife said his family would be comforted by having him home.Mr McMenemy's wife said his family would be comforted by having him home.
'Draw comfort'
Roseleen McMenemy said: "Our families have suffered terrible uncertainty and distress over the past four years and eight months.Roseleen McMenemy said: "Our families have suffered terrible uncertainty and distress over the past four years and eight months.
"We have worried about Alan every single minute of each waking day."We have worried about Alan every single minute of each waking day.
"We now know that we will shortly have Alan home again, this will allow us to properly grieve for him and we will draw some comfort from the fact that we have him home at last.""We now know that we will shortly have Alan home again, this will allow us to properly grieve for him and we will draw some comfort from the fact that we have him home at last."
'Some peace' This draws a line under Britain's longest running hostage crisis for a generation.
Alan McMenemy is the last of five British hostages who were kidnapped in 2007 to finally come home from Iraq. Only one has come home alive.
His family have had to wait far longer than the other hostage families, more than two years in their case.
He was kidnapped in broad daylight in the finance ministry in Baghdad in 2007 and he appeared in a hostage video.
His captors wanted a straight exchange. They wanted the Americans to release some militants that they had, the British government refused and one by one the bodyguards were all killed.
In the case of Alan McMenemy his captors said he died trying to escape and overpower his captors. For his family they will at last have some closure when his body comes home in the next few days.
The men were snatched by militants posing as police at the Iraqi finance ministry in May 2007.The men were snatched by militants posing as police at the Iraqi finance ministry in May 2007.
The four dead men were acting as bodyguards for Mr Moore.The four dead men were acting as bodyguards for Mr Moore.
He was freed on 30 December 2009, 946 days after he was kidnapped.He was freed on 30 December 2009, 946 days after he was kidnapped.
'Family ordeal'
In a statement David Cameron said: "My thoughts are with Alan's family and friends at this time.In a statement David Cameron said: "My thoughts are with Alan's family and friends at this time.
"They have waited so long for his return and I hope that this will allow them to find some peace after an ordeal that no family should ever have to suffer.""They have waited so long for his return and I hope that this will allow them to find some peace after an ordeal that no family should ever have to suffer."
An inquest into the deaths of Mr McMenemy's colleagues heard that on May 29 2007, the security guards - who were armed with automatic rifles and pistols - collected Mr Moore and a fellow IT consultant, Peter Donkin, believed to be American, from their accommodation in the green zone of Baghdad. An inquest into the deaths of Mr McMenemy's colleagues heard that on 29 May 2007, the security guards - who were armed with automatic rifles and pistols - collected Mr Moore and a fellow IT consultant, Peter Donkin, believed to be American, from their accommodation in the green zone of Baghdad.
The hearing, at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in June last year, heard that they escorted the pair to the ministry of finance where they were helping to install a new financial IT system.The hearing, at Trowbridge, Wiltshire, in June last year, heard that they escorted the pair to the ministry of finance where they were helping to install a new financial IT system.
At about 11.40am between 50 and 100 armed men, dressed in police and military uniforms, converged on the building and took the six men, the inquest heard. At about 11:40 local time between 50 and 100 armed men, dressed in police and military uniforms, converged on the building and took the six men, the inquest heard.
Mr Cameron added that the relatives of the British charity worker Margaret Hassan, who was abducted and shot dead in Baghdad in 2004, and Ken Bigley, an engineer, who was beheaded the same year, were still waiting for the return of their bodies. Mr Cameron added that the relatives of the British charity worker Margaret Hassan, who was abducted and shot dead in Baghdad in 2004, and engineer Ken Bigley, who was beheaded the same year, were still waiting for the return of their bodies.