HOSTAGE FAMILIES HELL: WHICH 2 ARE DEAD?

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Jun 21, 2009 | by VINCENT MOSS

TWO British hostages held in Iraq for two years have been found dead.

Iraqi authorities handed over two bodies to UK forces late on Friday, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said yesterday.

The two victims are believed to belong to the group of five British men kidnapped from the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in May 2007.

IT consultant Peter Moore, from Lincoln, and four security guards were snatched by Iranian-backed militants calling themselves the Islamic Shi'ite Resistance in Iraq.

Relatives now face an agonising wait to discover the names of the victims. Only the first names of the bodyguards have been released.

Two, Alan and Jason, are from Dumbarton and Aberdeen in Scotland. The others, Alec and a second Jason, are from Llanelli and Cardiff in Wales.

Mr Miliband said DNA tests were under way to identify the bodies. They are believed to have been killed months ago.

Peter Moore's father Graeme Moore, 59, claimed the Foreign Office had "not bothered" to keep him informed after the remains were handed to authorities.

He said: "At this stage we are just clinging on to any hope we can. The Government have not been good enough. We want and deserve is clarification. We're beside ourselves."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The Prime Minister was saddened and dismayed by the news that the remains of two bodies have been passed to the British Embassy in Baghdad. His thoughts are with the families of the five men."

The news comes days after hopes were raised of the hostages' imminent release.

On June 6, the US released Shia insurgent Laith alKhazali, a key demand of gunmen holding the hostages.

Mr Miliband repeated a call for the immediate safe release of "all the remaining hostages".