Bigley's murder 'barbaric'

2004-10-08 20:17

London - Slain British hostage Kenneth Bigley was the victim of a "barbaric murder", Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said on Friday, as he revealed for the first time that contact had been made with his captors.

"Now that this terrible news has been confirmed I want to offer the family and friends of Kenneth Bigley my deepest condolences," Straw said.

"This is a barbaric murder following three weeks of terrible suffering for his family," he said.

Speaking to reporters in London, Straw disclosed that an intermediary contacted the British Embassy in Baghdad four days ago, offering his assistance.

"It was clearly in Mr Bigley's interests that we should do all we could to make contact," Straw said.

"Messages were exchanged with the hostage-takers in an attempt to dissuade them from carrying out their threat to kill Mr Bigley," he said.

"But at no stage did they abandon their demands relating to the release of women prisoners even though they were fully aware there are no women prisoners in our custody in Iraq."

Prior to Friday, the British government insisted that it would not make concessions to Bigley's captors, the hardline Tawhid wal Jihad (Unity and Holy War) group.

Straw expressed his condolences and "deepest sympathy" to Bigley's family, saying: "They have conducted themselves with the greatest dignity, courage and strength.

"I hope that in their grief they can take some comfort from the admiration and support from the British public," he said.

Straw went on to describe Bigley as a "decent man".

"He was in Iraq for no other reason than to earn his living by working for the benefit of the Iraqi people."

- AFP