BROWN: LAST IRAQ HOSTAGE IS ALIVE; But two others are 'very likely' killed.Byline: CHRIS HUGHES GORDON Brown gave the family of fifth Iraq hostage Peter Moore a glimmer of hope yesterday by announcing the Government believes he is still alive. The PM's revelation came as he confirmed 36-year-old Peter's fellow hostages Persons taken by an individual or organized group in order to force a state, government unit, or community to meet certain conditions: payment of ransom, release of prisoners, or some other act. Alan McMenemy and Alec MacLachlan were "very likely" to have been killed. Mr Brown said the families of Alec and Alan had been told a week ago. He went on: "This is the worst of news. My thoughts are with the families. "I and the entire Government are committed to doing everything that we can for the release of Peter Moore, whom we still believe to be alive." The bodies of Jason Creswell, 38, and Jason Swindlehurst, 39, seized seized (seised) n. 1) having ownership, commonly used in wills as "I give all the property of which I die seized as follows:...." 2) having taken possession of evidence for use in a criminal prosecution. 3) having taken property or a person by force. (See: seisin, seizure) with Peter, Alan and Alec in Baghdad in May 2007, were handed over at the British Embassy last month. Peter's dad Graeme, 59, last night bitterly accused the Foreign Office of mishandling the entire hostage situation. He added: "Had they handled it right, all five would have been released two years ago, I'm convinced of it." Graeme claimed direct negotiations with the abductors could have resolved the problem within a month. He said he was clinging to the hope his son may have been spared because of his civilian status. He is an IT specialist, unlike his four cohostages who were his bodyguards. Graeme said: "The word was Peter was being treated differently because the others are ex-Army and bodyguards and Peter's a civilian. At the moment, it's all we can hope for." The families of Alec, from South Wales South Wales south n → sud m du Pays de Galles , and Alan, of Glasgow, have not given up hope. They said in a statement: "We are all deeply upset to hear the reports that Alec and Alan have died. "We ask those holding our men for compassion compassion, n a profound awareness of another's suffering coupled with a desire to alleviate that suffering. when so many are working hard for reconciliation in Iraq. We continue to pray for the safe return of our men." Peter, of Lincoln, and his guards were seized by 40 armed men at Baghdad's finance ministry. The kidnappers, calling themselves Islamic Shia Resistance in Iraq, have issued videos featuring the captives. CAPTION(S): KIDNAPPED Kidnapped caught in the intrigues of Scottish factions, David Balfour and Alan Breck are shipwrecked, escape from the king’s soldiers, and undergo great dangers. [Br. Lit.: R. L. Stevenson Kidnapped] See : Adventurousness Peter Moore on video and, right, MacLachlan and McMenemy, the two feared dead |
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