British Hostage Peter Moore Freed In Iraq

A British hostage has been freed after being held in Iraq for more than two-and-a-half years.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said he had just had a "very moving" conversation with Peter Moore, who is now at the British Embassy in Baghdad.

The 36-year-old is in "good health", he said, but is undergoing medical checks.

He said the former hostage was "to put it mildly absolutely delighted" at his release and would be reunited with his family "as soon as possible".

The computer expert was seized along with his four British bodyguards at the finance ministry in Baghdad on May 29, 2007.

Fears for his safety grew after the bodies of three of the security guards were handed over to the UK authorities.

Mr Moore's father Graeme, 60, from Wigston, Leicestershire, said he was "over the moon" at the news.

He said: "We are so relieved and we just want to get him home, back now to his family and friends.

"I'm breaking down, I'm just so overjoyed for the lad. It's been such a long haul."

Gordon Brown said: "I pay tribute to all those who helped in the protracted effort to secure the release.

"At this moment of celebration, we also remember the families of British hostages who have been killed in Iraq and elsewhere."


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