Scott
09-04-2009, 08:05 AM
GORDON Brown told of his "deep regret" after a body handed to officials in Iraq was named as Brit hostage Alec MacLachlan.
He is the third of four security men killed after being seized by 40 men posing as police in May 2007.
They were grabbed outside the finance ministry in Baghdad. The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, 38, from Skelmersdale, Lancs, and Jason Creswell, 39, from Glasgow, were handed to Baghdad officials in June.
Fourth guard Alan McMenemy, 33, from Glasgow, is still missing along with the man they were guarding, IT consultant Peter Moore, 36, from Lincoln. But six weeks ago Mr McMenemy's family were told he is probably dead. There is still hope Mr Moore is alive.
The kidnappers, calling themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq, have issued several videos featuring the captives and making demands.
Mr MacLachlan, 28, was from Llanelli, south Wales.
PM Brown said: "It's with the deepest regret that the body passed to the British Embassy is now discovered to be that of Alec MacLachlan. My thoughts are with the family at this time of great grief.
"We are demanding of the hostage takers that they now give us information about the whereabouts of Alan McMenemy and return Peter Moore, who we still believe to be alive.
"We will pursue these hostage takers, there is no justification for what they have done... that is what every family should expect of us and that is what we are going to do."
He is the third of four security men killed after being seized by 40 men posing as police in May 2007.
They were grabbed outside the finance ministry in Baghdad. The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, 38, from Skelmersdale, Lancs, and Jason Creswell, 39, from Glasgow, were handed to Baghdad officials in June.
Fourth guard Alan McMenemy, 33, from Glasgow, is still missing along with the man they were guarding, IT consultant Peter Moore, 36, from Lincoln. But six weeks ago Mr McMenemy's family were told he is probably dead. There is still hope Mr Moore is alive.
The kidnappers, calling themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq, have issued several videos featuring the captives and making demands.
Mr MacLachlan, 28, was from Llanelli, south Wales.
PM Brown said: "It's with the deepest regret that the body passed to the British Embassy is now discovered to be that of Alec MacLachlan. My thoughts are with the family at this time of great grief.
"We are demanding of the hostage takers that they now give us information about the whereabouts of Alan McMenemy and return Peter Moore, who we still believe to be alive.
"We will pursue these hostage takers, there is no justification for what they have done... that is what every family should expect of us and that is what we are going to do."