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July 20, 2008
Brown Demands Release
of British Hostages in Iraq
London
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown Sunday demanded the "immediate
and unconditional" release of British hostages in Iraq, after one of
the five Britons kidnapped more than a year ago was reported to have
committed suicide.
Earlier Sunday, British weekly the Sunday Times reported receiving a
video claiming that the hostage killed himself May 24, and showing
another hostage calling on British authorities to do more to free
them.
The British Foreign Ministry however said there was no independent
confirmation of the hostage's death.
The British prime minister said efforts to free the five men were
moving forward, and he brought up the issue of the hostages to Iraqi
Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki during his visit to Baghdad yesterday.
In a statement, Brown said "clearly this is a very distressing
development. We are taking this very seriously. There are many
people working behind the scenes trying to find a solution."
British Foreign Secretary David Miliband also condemned the
kidnappings and urged the hostage-takers to release the hostages for
the sake of the men's families.
The five men, information technology specialist Peter Moore and four
body guards, were kidnapped from the Iraqi finance ministry premises
May 29, 2007 allegedly by Shia militiamen.
A statement accompanying the video from a group calling itself the
Shia Islamic Resistance in Iraq accused Britain of not responding to
messages from captives and their kidnappers.
"This procrastination and foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on
the part of the British government has prolonged (the hostages')
psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit
suicide," the statement said.
The hostage appearing on the video, identified as Alan, said
"physically, I'm not doing well. Psychological, I'm doing a lot
worse. I want to see my family again."
DPA
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July 20, 2008
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