Briton held hostage in Iraq 'kills himself'

MILITANTS in Iraq say a British hostage has committed suicide in despair at the UK government's failure to negotiate his release.

The news emerged on a videotape released by insurgents who have been holding five men for more than a year.

The tape contained a heart-rending plea from another hostage, a Scottish bodyguard known only as Alan, for the British government to intervene.

Looking pale and drawn he faced the camera and said: "Despite my good treatment over the last year, physically I'm not doing well. Psychologically I'm doing a lot worse.

"The thought of not seeing my family again… just isn't doing well with me at all."

It is the first glimpse his wife Roseleen and children, aged 14 and three, will have had of Alan since he was snatched from the Iraqi finance ministry in Baghdad on May 29, 2007.

Last night the Foreign Office was unable to confirm the death of his fellow hostage, named by the kidnappers as Jason.

The five men – an IT consultant named Peter Moore and four bodyguards whose full identities have never been confirmed – were kidnapped by a Shi'ite group whose demands include the release of prisoners from American detention.

Two of the bodyguards are called Jason, the others are Alan and a man named Alec.

The video features a statement from the kidnappers claiming that Jason killed himself on May 25 this year, four days before the first anniversary of their abduction. The others are understood to still be in captivity.

In his message, delivered in a soft Scottish accent, Alan said: "This is a message to the British government to ask why after one year I've received no attention – I've received nothing.

"Over the past year, the treatment from my captors has been very good, to say the least. I'd like to thank my captors and the Iraqi resistance for that treatment. I'd like for the release of all Iraqi prisoners, especially females and religious prisoners, and I'd like that to be done within one month.

"I would like for the British government to please hurry. I'm appealing to you to please hurry and try and get this resolved as soon as possible."

Despite the harrowing nature of the video, his father, who asked to be named only as Dennis, said it was comforting to see his son looking reasonably healthy.

Roseleen said she could not imagine what he had gone through during the past 14 months. "But quite clearly from the video, he is still coping well and doing everything he can to be strong for his family.

"I want the hostage-takers to find a peaceful way to resolve their grievances and to release our loved ones.

"I want the hostage-takers to find a peaceful way to resolve their grievances and to release our loved ones," she said.

The kidnappers' statement signed by The Shi'ite Islamic

Resistance in Iraq, accused 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," it said.

"He surprised our brethren, who were taking care of him, with his suicide."

In a statement released by Downing Street, Prime Minister Gordon Brown – who was in Iraq yesterday – said: "Clearly this is a very distressing development. We are taking this very seriously.

"There are many people working behind the scenes trying to find a solution.

"I raised the case of these men with PM Maliki. We both share a desire to see them returned safely to their families. I call on those holding the hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally."

Jason had reportedly attempted suicide on two previous occasions.