Kidnap-ordealBriton flies back to UK amid secrecy

The 36-year-old computer expert, from Lincoln, touched down at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire shortly after 5pm.

Mr Moore was seized with his four British bodyguards by militants posing as police at Baghdad’s finance ministry in May 2007.

His return to the UK was veiled in secrecy following a request for privacy from his family.

He spent a quiet New Year’s Eve at the Baghdad embassy before boarding his UK-bound flight.

His family are believed to have asked for a “period of decompression”, enabling Mr Moore to ease gently back into public life.

He was finally released from captivity on Wednesday following lengthy negotiations.

The bodies of three of his bodyguards – Alec MacLachlan, 30, from Llanelli, South Wales, Jason Swindlehurst, 38, from Skelmersdale, Lancashire, and Jason Creswell, 39, originally from Glasgow – were passed to UK authorities last year.

A fourth bodyguard, Alan McMenemy, 34, from Glasgow, is also believed to have been killed.

Mr Moore’s father, Graeme, said: “We are glad he’s home. Of course we are not with him and we are not able to talk to him but we are absolutely delighted.

“I want to give him a big hug when I see him but he will probably shove me through the wall, looking at the size of him.

“Me and his friends can’t wait to see him and it’s just a massive relief to get him home.”

Mr Moore’s father, Graeme, who has been critical of the Government’s handling of the case, claimed he had been “fully vindicated”, adding: “We’ve always said that we would get Pete out regardless of the Foreign Office.”

He added: “Once he gets out, his friends will tell him the truth about what has gone on.”

Mr Moore’s safe return came as families of the hostages continued to question the role the Government had played in securing their release.

Yesterday Graeme Moore claimed secret talks were held between American negotiators and his son’s captors without the British Government’s knowledge.

The 60-year-old said a source in the country texted him a month ago, saying the Americans were talking to his son’s kidnappers about the release of Qais al-Khazali. The leader of Asaib al-Haq, or the League of Righteousness, was transferred from US to Iraqi custody shortly before the release of Mr Moore.

The news prompted speculation of a prisoner exchange deal, since denied by the Foreign Office.

A spokesman said: “The United States transferred Qais al-Khazali to government of Iraq custody under the two countries’ Status of Forces Agreement (Sofa).

“The UK continues to be kept informed of this process through its contacts with the United States and the government of Iraq.

“Separately, the government of Iraq is carrying out a process of reconciliation with groups willing to renounce violence and enter the political mainstream. Since holding hostages is incompatible with reconciliation, we judge that progress on the wider reconciliation effort will benefit hostages held in Iraq.

“There has been no prisoner exchange deal in the case of Peter Moore.”

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