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Prime ministers

Anxious Wait for Families of British Hostages in Baghdad

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

The families of the British hostages kidnapped in Baghdad faced a tense and anxious wait as authorities worked to identify a body handed to Iraqi authorities. Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressed his deep sadness at the news, while Foreign Secretary David Miliband underscored the government's commitment to securing the release of the remaining hostages. The body is believed to be that of either Alan McMenemy and Alec MacLachlan, who were captured in 2007 along with fellow security guards Jason Swindlehurst, Jason Creswell, and IT consultant Peter Moore.

Key Takeaways:

  • The body handed to Iraqi authorities is believed to be a British hostage, with Prime Minister Gordon Brown expressing deep sadness at the news.
  • Foreign Secretary David Miliband stated that hostage-taking is never justified and that the British government's policy is to negotiate with those who can help, but not to make substantive concessions to hostage-takers.
  • The government remains committed to securing the release of the remaining hostages, with Miliband renewing a call to those holding the hostages to return them to their loved ones.
  • The body is expected to be identified through a process being overseen by the British and Iraqi governments, with Prime Minister Brown in close touch with the Iraqi prime minister about the case.
  • The hostages were captured in 2007, and the government had previously told the families of Alan McMenemy and Alec MacLachlan that they were "very likely" to be dead six weeks prior to the discovery of the body.

Statistics:

  • 2007: The year in which the British hostages were captured.
  • 6 weeks: The timeframe within which the government informed the families of Alan McMenemy and Alec MacLachlan that they were "very likely" to be dead.
  • 2: The number of hostages whose bodies are believed to be among the remains passed to Iraqi authorities, namely Alan McMdney and Alec MacLachlan.
  • 2007: The time of year in which the security guards and IT consultant Peter Moore were captured, along with Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell.

Sources:

  • The Guardian, unnamed source.

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