Kidnapped Brits 'not forgotten'
The hostage video was broadcast on Arabic television yesterday
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Wednesday, 05, Dec 2007 07:51
The families and friends of five men kidnapped in Iraq in May insist they have "not once forgotten" their loved ones in a new message.
Yesterday a video apparently showing one of the five captive men was broadcast on Arabic television. The statement, from a hostage identifying himself as 'Jason', said he felt his country had "forgotten" his plight.
Apparently in response to the video, the Foreign Office released a statement from the men's families and friends saying "we love you and miss you very much".
"While the pain of missing you does not go away we are all staying positive for you and hope that you are looking after yourselves and keeping your spirits up as much as you can under such circumstances," it adds.
"We want you to know that we continue to do everything we can, through all the channels available to us, to work towards your safe release."
The five Britons were kidnapped when gunmen broke into the Iraqi finance ministry within the heavily fortified Green Zone in Baghdad.
The hostage-takers are now threatening to kill one of the men if British troops are not withdrawn from the country within ten days.
"Today is November 18th," 'Jason' says in yesterday's video.
"I have been here now 173 days and I feel we've been forgotten."