'Suicide death' of UK Iraq hostage

2:08pm Sunday 20th July 2008

Prime Minister Gordon Brown is demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of British hostages being held in Iraq, following a militant group's claim that one of five men they kidnapped last year had committed suicide.

A video passed to the Sunday Times newspaper claimed that the man - known only as Jason - killed himself on May 25, four days short of the first anniversary of the five men's abduction.

A second hostage was shown on the video pleading for Government action to speed their release and warning that he was suffering physically and psychologically after 14 months in captivity.

The Foreign Office said it had no independent verification of the claims in the video and could not comment on their veracity. But speaking during his visit to Jerusalem, the Prime Minister said: "This abhorrent film will only add to the anguish of families who have suffered a great deal over a year for their loved ones who have been kept in captivity.

"I raised this matter with Prime Minister Maliki yesterday when I was in Iraq. I have also raised it on a number of occasions not only with the Iraqi government but with the Americans and others who are active in Iraq. I call on the hostage takers to release these people who have been held in captivity immediately.

"I will work with the Iraqi government as I said to Prime Minister Maliki yesterday to secure their release, and will do with everyone who is in a position to help us release these hostages. These men have suffered enough."

The five men - an IT consultant named Peter Moore and four bodyguards whose identities have not been confirmed - were kidnapped in May last year from the Iraqi finance ministry by a Shia group which is demanding the release of prisoners from US detention.

A statement signed by the Shia Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which was passed with the video to the Sunday Times, accuses the British Government of failing to respond to messages from the kidnappers and their captives.

"This procrastination and foot-dragging and lack of seriousness on the part of the British Government has prolonged their psychological deterioration, pushing one of them, Jason, to commit suicide," the statement said. "He surprised our brethren, who were taking care of him, with his suicide."

The video featured a still photograph of a man in a football shirt who was identified by the militant as Jason. The second hostage - understood to be a father-of-two from Scotland called Alan - was shown saying: "Physically, I'm not doing well. Psychologically, I'm doing a lot worse. I want to see my family again," he said. "I would like for the British Government to please hurry and get this resolved as soon as possible."

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