“We call on those holding all hostages to release them immediately and unconditionally, and return them safely to their families, where they belong,” Miliband said in a statement released Wednesday.

The five British men were kidnapped along with two Iraqis on May 29, 2007, from an Iraqi finance ministry building in Baghdad.

Four of the Britons worked for Canadian-based security firm GardaWorld, according to the company. They were protecting the fifth Briton, a computer analyst with U.S.-based BearingPoint.

The only fully identified captive has been Peter Moore, who said his name in a video released by the kidnappers.

The British Embassy in Baghdad received another video in March showing one of the hostages. Though the embassy released no details about the video, BBC reported that the hostage shown was Moore, who said the men were being treated well.

“I don’t think that any of us can imagine their ordeal nor the anguish that their families and friends have had to suffer during this dreadful time,” Miliband said.

“We have seen the humanitarian appeals that the families of the men have made. I’d like to support this appeal. Our thoughts are with them all as they continue to endure the pain of being separated from their loved ones.”

Miliband said there is a dedicated British government team working “tirelessly” with Iraqi authorities and coalition partners for the men’s release.

“The Iraq of today is a different place to that of two years ago,” Miliband said. “There are signs of progress and reconciliation as the Iraqi people show their commitment to a democratic and peaceful future. Hostage-taking has no part in that future.”

Source: The CNN Wire

“The economic downturn has aggravated abuses, distracted attention from them and created new problems,” Amnesty Secretary General Irene Khan said in a news release. “In the name of security, human rights were trampled on. Now, in the name of economic recovery, they are being relegated to the back seat.”

“Billions of people are suffering from insecurity, injustice and indignity,” Khan added. “This crisis is about shortages of food, jobs, clean water, land and housing, and also about deprivation and discrimination, growing inequality, xenophobia and racism, violence and repression across the world.”

Amnesty cited specific trouble spots, including:

– Surging food prices leading to more hunger and disease.
– Economic development forcing hundreds of thousands of residents from slums and rural areas.
– Marginalized and indigenous people in countries such as Brazil, India and Mexico being denied basic necessities, despite economic growth.
– Countries such as Myanmar, North Korea and Zimbabwe using food as a political weapon.
– Countries such as Libya, Mauritania and Morocco further tightening borders against migrants, with the European Union colluding with those governments.

In response to what Amnesty called “a burning need for change,” it is launching a global “Demand Dignity” campaign against rights abuses that fuel poverty.

The campaign’s focus will include slums, forced evictions, maternal mortality, women’s right to sexual and reproductive health, and corporate accountability for human rights abuses, Amnesty said.

“Our first demand in our new campaign is to the U.S.A. and China,” Khan said. “The United States does not accept the notion of economic, cultural and social rights, while China does not respect civil and political rights. Both governments must sign up to all human rights for all.”

Source: The CNN Wire