Reports a British hostage has committed suicide
Updated on 19 July 2008
Militants in Iraq are claiming that a British hostage held for almost a year has committed suicide, it has been reported.
The claim came in a video message passed to a Sunday newspaper from a group purporting to have seized five Britons in Baghdad in 2007.
The video also features footage of one of the men - named only as Alan - pleading with the Government to take action to allow him to return home to his family in Scotland.
The Foreign Office has said it has no independent verification of the claims in the video and cannot comment on their veracity.
But Foreign Secretary David Miliband said that the video, and a letter from the hostage takers, would cause "deep distress and concern to the families of the five men".
In a statement, he condemned hostage taking as "a disgusting crime which is never justified".
The five men - an IT consultant named Peter Moore and four bodyguards whose identities have not been confirmed - were kidnapped from the Iraqi finance ministry by a Shi'ite group who are demanding the release of prisoners from American detention.
The video features a statement claiming that one of the men - named only as Jason - killed himself on May 25 this year, four days before the first anniversary of their abduction.
The others are understood still to be in captivity.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown raised the case of the five hostages with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on his surprise visit to Iraq.
The statement passed to the newspaper, signed by The Shi'ite Islamic Resistance in Iraq, 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 on 25/5/2008," the statement said.
"He surprised our brethren, who were taking care of him, with his suicide."
The hostage known as Alan, understood to be a father-of-two from Scotland, was shown on the film saying: "Physically, I'm not doing well. Psychologically, I'm doing a lot worse. I want to see my family again."
Mr Miliband restated Government calls for the men's release.
"As in the case of previous messages from the hostage takers, the Government emphasises the humanitarian appeal of the families for the men's release.
"The Foreign Office is in close contact with the men's families to offer all possible support. We are also in close contact with the Iraqi Government and with others in Iraq who recognise the need to find a way forward. Our officials in Iraq continue to be ready to work with anyone prepared to help in this case.
"Over the last six months, more and more people in Iraq have rejected violence and entered the political process. There is still a long way to go. We will continue to work with all those who seek peace and reconciliation."
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