Article
Bodies of British Iraq hostages return to UK
Coroner to open inquests into deaths of Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell before releasing bodies released for funerals
The bodies of two British security guards who were held hostage in Iraq for two years were flown back to the UK from Baghdad this morning.
Coffins containing the remains of Jason Swindlehurst and Jason Creswell arrived at RAF Lyneham, the Foreign Office said.
The bodies of Swindlehurst, from Skelmersdale, in Lancashire, and Creswell, from Glasgow, were officially identified on Monday after being handed over to Iraqi authorities at the weekend.
An FCO spokesman said the Oxfordshire coroner had been informed and would open and adjourn inquests into the deaths before releasing the men's bodies to their families for funerals.
The pair worked for the Canadian security firm GardaWorld in Baghdad as guards for the IT consultant Peter Moore, who remains captive along with two more of his guards, known only as Alan, from Scotland, and Alec, from south Wales. The five were seized at the Iraqi finance ministry on 29 May 2007 by about 40 armed men wearing police uniforms.
A spokesman for GardaWorld paid tribute to Creswell and Swindlehurst this week and insisted the company was doing everything it could to bring about the release of the remaining three captives.
"These two professionals were outstanding individuals who commanded the respect of all who knew and worked with them," he said. "They will be deeply missed by their friends and colleagues. We continue to be deeply concerned for the remaining three hostages and are doing everything we can to achieve their release."
Gordon Brown sent his condolences to the dead men's families and called for those holding Moore and his fellow hostages to let them go. "There is no justification for hostage-taking and I call on those people who are holding the other Iraqi and British hostages to release them immediately," said the prime minister.