Body of Iraq hostage, Alan McMenemy, released
#175 — Iraq
An Iraqi woman walks by a US military vehicle belonging to the 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment while on patrol on July 16, 2011, in Iskandariya, Iraq.
Iraq has turned over the body of hostage Alan McMenemy to the British Embassy in Baghdad on Friday, the Guardian reported.
"It is with great sadness that I can confirm that the British embassy in Baghdad received a body today that has been identified as Alan McMenemy, who was kidnapped in Baghdad in 2007, along with four other men,” said British Prime Minister David Cameron in a statement, the Guardian reported.
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McMenemy, from Glasgow, was abducted in 2007, while he was on guard at a computer consultant’s office in the Iraqi ministry of finance. Three other guards and an IT expert were also abducted with him and the bodies of Jason Swindlehurst, Jason Creswell and Alec MacLachlan were returned in 2009, the Associated Press reported. Peter Moore was later released alive in 2010.
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"My thoughts are with Alan's family and friends at this time. They have waited so long for his return and I hope that this will allow them to find some peace after an ordeal that no family should ever have to suffer,” said Cameron, the Guardian reported.
McMenemy’s wife and family have said they would be comforted if Alan’s body was returned to them, the BBC reported.
“Our families have suffered terrible uncertainty and distress over the past four years and eight months. We have worried about Alan every single minute of each waking day,” said widow Roseleen McMenemy in a statement, the BBC reported. "We now know that we will shortly have Alan home again, this will allow us to properly grieve for him and we will draw some comfort from the fact that we have him home at last."
"My thoughts are with Alan's family and friends at this time. They have waited so long for his return and I hope that this will allow them to find some peace after an ordeal that no family should ever have to suffer."
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