Plea from Iraq hostages' families

The families of five hostages held in Iraq, two of whom have died, have spoken of their "profound grief" and called for the others to be freed.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband has insisted every "conceivable option" had been examined to secure their release.

The bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, from Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, from Glasgow, were released on Saturday.

The two dead men were among five captured by armed militants at the Ministry of Finance in Baghdad in 2007.

The five men were an IT consultant and four security guards who were protecting him.

'Shocking'

In a statement on behalf of the five families, Jan Beattie, a friend of Mr Creswell, called on the kidnappers to release the remaining three men and asked for privacy from the media.

She said: "We are deeply stunned and saddened by the tragic and upsetting news of the deaths of Jason Creswell and Jason Swindlehurst.

"We ask those still holding Alec, Alan and Peter to release them and allow them to return home to their families as soon as possible.

We need to come to terms with this extremely shocking news in our own way Hostages' family statement Was UK hostages strategy right?

"Our grief is profound, but we remain united in our support for each other as a family group and we have been extremely touched by the messages of support we have received over the past 48 hours.

"We would now ask the media and public to give us, particularly those who have lost loved ones, the privacy we need to come to terms with this extremely shocking news in our own way."

The family statement comes as the government faces criticisms that it did not do enough to try to free the two British hostages who died.

'No stone unturned'

Mr Miliband said: "Every option is investigated, every avenue is explored, and every lead is followed up in trying to bring a successful resolution to this kidnap.

"Obviously now we have to focus on the three remaining hostages. They're obviously in very grave danger indeed, and we are doing everything we can to try to ensure that their lives are saved".

Earlier Prime Minister Gordon Brown said the government had left "no stone unturned" in efforts to free the five men held since May 2007.

There have been accusations that the UK's approach of not negotiating with hostage-takers endangers lives.

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