Britain Thursday made a direct appeal for the release of five men seized by armed militants from the finance ministry in Baghdad exactly a year ago, according to dpa. The hostages, who worked for a US management consultancy and a Canadian security firm, were abducted in an audacious raid involving more than 40 men, some disguised as Iraqi police officers, on May 29, last year. In interviews and statements Thursday, relatives told of their agony of missing their loved ones. Britain's Foreign Office has imposed a virtual news blackout on the case, saying that sensitive negotiations for the men's release are going on behind the scenes. But, in a move to mark the anniversary, Britain's ambassador to Iraq, Christopher Prentice, Thursday urged the hostage-takers to free the captives and called on anyone with information to contact the British authorities. From the British embassy in Baghdad, Prentice recorded a video message in English and Arabic, aimed primarily at Iraqis. "It has been a long and extremely difficult year for these men's families, who only wish to have their loved ones back home, safe from their ordeal," the message said. "The British Government remains committed to working for the release of all those held, and I appeal again to those responsible to release these men in order that they may return home," it added. "We wish to hear from any person who has information about these five men, or anyone who may be able to bring about their safe release." Over the past 12 months the kidnappers, calling themselves the Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq, have released two videos of the captives. In December, a film was broadcast on Dubai-based TV station al- Arabiya warning one hostage would be killed unless British troops were withdrawn from Iraq. A second video, broadcast by al-Arabiya in February, showed one of the men asking Prime Minister Gordon Brown to free nine Iraqis in exchange for the Britons' release. The case has not featured in the media as much as other kidnappings in Iraq - including those of Britons Ken Bigley and Margaret Hassan. The Foreign Office said it did not want anything to get in the way of its negotiations, through third parties, to get the men released.
