Louise (Admin)
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'Strong reason to believe' Briton killed by Al-QaedaPrime Minister Gordon Brown on Wednesday said there was "strong reason to believe" a British hostage had been executed by an Al-Qaeda cell in Mali, calling it a "barbaric act".
"We have strong reason to believe that a British citizen, Edwin Dyer, has been murdered by an Al-Qaeda cell in Mali. I utterly condemn this appalling and barbaric act of terrorism," Brown said in a statement.
"This tragedy reinforces our commitment to confront terrorism. It strengthens our determination never to concede to the demands of terrorists, nor to pay ransoms."
Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb killed Dyer on May 31, saying Britain had been "unresponsive" to its demands, according to the SITE Intelligence Group.
SITE said Dyer was kidnapped in Niger on January 22, but he was believed to have been held in Mali.
Al-Qaeda had on May 21 extended a deadline on its threat to kill Dyer, giving the government more time to respond to its demand to release Muslim cleric Abu Qatada, once regarded as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe.
Brown warned that those who took such action against British citizens would be pursued "relentlessly" and "that they will meet the justice they deserve."
"I have regularly discussed this case with the President of Mali -- he knows that he will have every support in rooting out Al-Qaeda from his country," Brown added.
He also pledged "every possible support" for Dyer's family.
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Julie C
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 Terrible thoughts & prayers for his family, take care luv Juliexx
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FlakeySugarButt
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Saftlad
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Executed is the wrong word, he was murbered by cowards.
My thoughts go out to his family.
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Lady Rachel
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what a terrible thing.
my thoughts are with the family
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