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A British IT expert seized by gunman in Iraq nearly nine months ago has been shown in a video by his kidnappers calling Gordon Brown to action his release. Peter Moore, who works for BearingPoint, a US-based technology consultancy, said he and his four bodyguards would be freed if Britain released nine militia rebels. His bearded appearance in the video, which was sent to a Dubai-based broadcaster, is in stark contrast to a photo of the 33-year-old taken before he was kidnapped in May. But positively, it is the first proof that he is alive since 40 gunmen dressed as police officers took him from Baghdad’s finance ministry, where he was implementing IT systems. There is no evidence that any of the five Britons have been harmed by their captors, thought to be the Shiite Islamic Resistance in Iraq, according to a signature on the video. “I miss my family a lot and the only thing I want is to get out of here,” said the Briton, who immediately identified himself as Peter Moore. “I tell Gordon Brown: Free their prisoners and we can go home.” In the clip, a drawn-looking Mr Moore repeatedly says the release of the nine men is a “simple” demand, but British authorities, said to be holding the men, say they won’t negotiate. Despite the official line, behind the scenes efforts to secure Mr Moore’s release are thought to be ongoing, and are said to include a priest who was once protected by the four bodyguards. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office said that no matter what the cause, the holding of hostages is never justified. The video would be “greatly distressing” to the men’s families, officials said adding “our thoughts are with them.” And responding to Mr Moore’s plea, a spokesman for Mr Brown told Sky News that he was on the case. “The Prime Minister has been in close contact with [Iraqi] Prime Minister Maliki on this issue and discussed it again with him over the phone this morning," Number 10 reportedly said yesterday. “Both leaders deplored the taking and public parading of hostages and agreed to continue their close cooperation to secure their early release.” Feb 28, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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