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Peter Moore from the UK has been released alive after being captured in Baghdad in 2007 - Source: Reuters
Briton Peter Moore, taken hostage in Baghdad in 2007, has been
released alive, the Iraqi and British governments said.
"British hostage Peter Moore has been released alive and been
handed to the British embassy in Baghdad," Iraqi government
spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.
"He is alive and in good health ... The Iraqi government is happy
that he will be joining his family for the holidays," he
added.
In London, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband confirmed his
release and said he had just had a very moving telephone
conversation with Moore.
"Peter is in good health despite many months of captivity. He is
undergoing medical checks and will be reunited with his family as
soon as possible. He is obviously delighted at his release," he
told reporters.
Moore, a computer programmer working on a contract in Baghdad, was
captured with four of his bodyguards from Iraq's Finance Ministry
in 2007.
The bodies of three of the bodyguards have since been handed to
British authorities.
The fate of the fourth bodyguard, Alan McMenemy, is as yet unconfirmed.
British officials believe he is dead.
Dabbagh said Iraq had no information on the issue.
"We have believed for some time that he has been killed and his
immediate family have been told our view of his likely fate,"
Miliband said.
"I therefore call again on the hostage takers to return Alan's
body as soon as possible."
Dabbagh said Iraq had not been involved in talks to secure Moore's
release, but that the government supported the efforts taken.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he was hugely relieved by
the news of Moore's release and that he would be reunited with his
family.
"They have faced a terrible ordeal, and I know that the whole
nation will share their joy that he is coming home," he said in a
statement.
