World | UK
Bodies of two British hostages killed in Iraq identified
The bodies of two British hostages killed in Iraq were formally identified on Sunday, 36 hours after being handed over by their kidnappers.
- Guardian News & Media Ltd
- Published: 20:44 June 21, 2009
The bodies of two British hostages killed in Iraq were formally identified on Sunday, 36 hours after being handed over by their kidnappers.
They are believed to be two of the four men who were guards for computer programmer Peter Moore. All five were men seized in Baghdad in late May 2007.
It was understood that Foreign Office officials were talking to the men's families on Sunday afternoon. The two Britons were identified by a British police forensics team that has been in Iraq training Iraqi police forces.
The bodies are likely to be flown to London as early as Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the Iraqi government moved to distance itself from the handing over of the bodies, which the foreign secretary, David Miliband,yesterday said had been facilitated by Iraqi officials.
Ali Al Dabbagh, an Iraqi government spokesman, said: "We are not a participant in these negotiations, but we knew there has been indirect contact to learn the fate of these hostages.
"I deny what David Milliband said about the Iraqi government handing over the bodies of the hostages."
Throughout two years of largely secret talks, British, US and Iraqi officials have denied directly negotiating with the hostage takers, a group of Shia Islamist extremists who aim to exchange prisoners.
The five contractors were seized by about 40 armed men, wearing police uniforms, at the Iraqi finance ministry.
The four men kidnapped with Moore named only as Alan and Jason from Scotland and Alec and a second man called Jason from Wales were employed as security guards by the Canadian security firm GardaWorld.
Share this article
UK
Tough love moulds young minds best
Wanted man sends in replacement photo
Two British ticketholders share £90m jackpot
Mum dies trying to save son from blaze
Meeting the Queen with pen tucked behind ear!
Brown under fire over Afghanistan policies
Politician could get time in prison after admitting expenses scam
Call for scientific advisers to be free from interference
More from World
News Editor's choice
-
Ajtebi's phenomenal assent
The former camel jockey was at the peak of his powers when upstaging Garret Gomez
-
US pushing for more aid to Philippines
Obama administration eyeing $667m security assistance package
-
Mohammad launches H1N1 campaign
Shaikh Mohammad was the first one to receive the H1N1 vaccine.
