Families’ plea to release hostages

Mar 1 2008 by Gerry Holt, South Wales Echo

THE families of two men from South Wales held captive in Iraq for nine months have begged for their safe release.

In a statement, released through the Foreign Office, they address the kidnappers directly, saying: “Please, show the world your true humanity, and let our loved ones go.”

They say they are “ordinary peace-loving British people” who miss their loved ones “more than we can express”.

The two men, one from Cardiff and one from Llanelli, were seized along with three others from the UK by about 40 gunmen dressed as police at the Iraqi Finance Ministry on May 29.

The statement came in response to a video message, released by the group Islamic Shia Resistance earlier this week, showing one of the hostages Peter Moore. In it Mr Moore, from Lincolnshire, asked Prime Minister Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqi prisoners.

The statement said: “To our fathers, brothers, sons and husbands, we miss you more than we can express.

“We hope our words reach you. Not a day goes by when we do not think of you. We pray we will all be reunited soon.

“We thank all those who are working for your release, and pray their efforts will succeed.

“To the leaders of the Islamic Shia Resistance, we wish to reply to your message. You tell us that you are against torture and injustice. So are we. We are suffering by being separated from our loved ones, and seeing them on television with their lives in danger.

“We understand the suffering of the Iraqi people, including the innocent Iraqis in prison. We would not wish that suffering on anyone.

“You tell us that you have been forced into taking our loved ones and can see that you are resisting an occupation. Please hear us when we say that we are just ordinary peace-loving British people.

“We are not involved in politics and we and our loved ones are not responsible for the actions of the British or American governments.

“But you are responsible for your actions. Please, show the world your true humanity, and let our loved ones go.

“We would like to thank everybody for their support but ask that we, the families, are left alone at this difficult time.”

echo.newsdesk@mediawales.co.uk

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