The families of five British men taken prisoner in Iraq more than 100 days ago have appealed to their captors: "please send them home to us".
The men were seized on 29 May from Baghdad's Finance Ministry by gunmen believed to be in the Mehdi Army.
Coalition troops have been searching for the men - four bodyguards and a computer expert - in Sadr City.
The relatives have urged the captors to end their "torment" of being separated from "ordinary family men".
'Send them home'
The statement continues: "They are sons, fathers and brothers who were working to support us - their families. We miss them so much and want them to come home to us so that our families can be complete again and our children no longer have to endure the pain of missing their fathers.
"The five men should be released immediately and returned to their loved ones"
"These are not men with political views or any authority, they are ordinary family men who have parents, wives and children that love and cherish them - please send them home to us."
US commanders said earlier this week that they believed the Britons were still alive.
Foreign Secretary David Miliband promised the government would "do all it can" to secure the hostages' release.
He said: "Taking hostages is never justified, no matter what cause it may claim to serve. The five men should be released immediately and returned to their loved ones."
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