Plea for Iraq hostages' release

A man saying he is Peter Moore appears in the video

The families of the five Britons being held hostage in Iraq have made a fresh appeal for their release.

The stepmother of Peter Moore, Pauline Sweeney, read a statement asking the kidnappers to show their "true humanity" and let them go.

A video of Mr Moore was shown on Arabic TV earlier this week.

In the footage he asked Gordon Brown to set free nine Iraqi prisoners in exchange for the release of the Britons, who were seized last May.

In the message Mrs Sweeney told the five men: "To our fathers, brothers, sons, and husbands, we miss you more than we can express.

"Not a day goes by when we do not think of you. We pray we will all be reunited soon.

"We thank all those who are working for your release, and pray their efforts will succeed. We miss you and we hope these words will reach you."

She then spoke directly to the hostage-takers, who call themselves the Islamic Shia Resistance.

Suffering

"You tell us you are against torture and injustice, so are we. We are suffering by being separated from our loved ones and seeing them on television with their lives in danger," she said.

"We understand the suffering of the Iraqi people, including the innocent Iraqis in prison. We do not wish that suffering on anyone.

"Please hear us when we say that we are just ordinary peace-loving British people. We are not involved in politics and we and our loved ones are not responsible for the actions of the British or American governments."

She goes on to appeal for the release of the five men as an act of "true humanity".

There is no news of any developments since the video of her stepson was broadcast.

Gordon Brown and the Iraqi prime minister, Nuri al Maliki, spoke by phone after the broadcast. Downing Street said they deplored the "public parading" of hostages and would continue their close co-operation to get the men freed.