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Freed British hostage back in UK

Peter Moore - Kidnapped in Baghdad
Peter Moore - Kidnapped in Baghdad

A British man kidnapped in Iraq in 2007 has arrived back in Britain, after two and a half years in captivity.

The computer expert's flight from Jordan has landed at the Royal Air Force base at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, northwest of London.

Mr Moore, 36, from Lincoln, was seized with his four British bodyguards by militants posing as police at the finance ministry in Baghdad on 29 May 2007.

But after lengthy negotiations for his release, he was freed on Wednesday.

The bodies of three bodyguards Alec MacLachlan, 30, from Llanelli, South Wales, Jason Swindlehurst, 38, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, 39, originally from Glasgow were passed to UK authorities last year.

A fourth bodyguard, Alan McMenemy, 34, from Glasgow, is also believed to have been killed.

The Foreign Office in London today remained tight lipped about details, saying only that it was ‘unable to confirm’ reports that Mr Moore would return to Britain today.

Mr Moore's return home comes as anger mounts at the Government's efforts in handling the crisis.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Foreign Secretary David Miliband demanded the return of the remains of the final hostage, Mr McMenemy.

Graeme Moore said a source in the country texted him about a month ago, saying the Americans were secretly dealing with his son's kidnappers as they held Qais al-Khazali.

Mr Moore said he spoke earlier to Canon Andrew White, known as the Vicar of Baghdad, to thank him for helping in the negotiations to release his son.

UK and Iraqi officials played down claims Iran masterminded the abduction.

General David Petraeus, the former US commander in Iraq said he was ‘90% certain’ the hostages were held in Iran for at least part of their ordeal.