Brown seeks British hostages146; release

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said he was taking 8220;very seriously8221; the claim by a Shia militant group in Iraq that one of the five Britons they were holding hostage had killed himself and sought the release of the captives 8220;immediately and unconditionally8221;.

In a statement, Brown said 8220;clearly this is a very distressing development. We are taking this very seriously.8221;

8220;There are many people working behind the scenes trying to find a solution.8221; Brown said he discussed the issue of the five hostages nd with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Malliki in Baghdad on Saturday.