Kidnappers release death threat video of 'forgotten' British hostage in Iraq

He is one of five Britons - four guards and an IT specialist - abducted in Baghdad in May, after which the Foreign Office imposed a virtual news blackout.

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Flanked by two masked, heavily-armed fighters aiming their assault rifles at him, the bearded man appeared haggard as he sat beneath a sign reading "The Islamic Shiite Resistance in Iraq".

Speaking clearly in a British accent, the man said: "My name is Jason. Today is November 18. I have been here now 173 days and I feel we've been forgotten."

A written statement on the video accused Britain of plundering Iraq's wealth and demanded British troops leave within ten days of the broadcast or "this hostage will be killed as a first warning, which would be followed with details you would not want to know".

It claimed all five men had "acknowledged and confessed and detailed the agenda with which they came to steal our wealth under false pretence of being advisers to the Finance Ministry".

The tape promised to "follow up with their confessions later".

It was the first time any of the Britons had been seen since they were snatched from the Iraqi Foreign Ministry by 40 gunmen wearing police uniforms, and the first time their captors' demands had been made public.

The tape was broadcast by the Al-Arabiya satellite television station.

It was unclear when it was received.

Nabil al-Khateeb, head of news at Al-Arabiya, said only "newsworthy" parts of the tape were aired and the British Government had asked to see the whole video.

"They asked but we didn't decide on that yet," he said last night.

The timing of the call for the withdrawal of British troops is seen as bizarre, as UK forces have effectively pulled back to their remaining base at Basra airport and a gradual withdrawal is under way.

Newspapers have been asked not to identify the men, but their families issued an emotional plea for their release in September.

They said the hostages were "ordinary family men" who were only trying to earn a living.

The Anglican church's vicar in Baghdad has been helping efforts to secure the five Britons' release since they were kidnapped.

Last night Canon Andrew White said he could not comment on the video.

In an email from the Iraqi capital he wrote: "I am sorry I cannot say anything on this matter apart from the fact that I have been working on this case for the past six months."

Previous British hostages including Liverpool engineer Ken Bigley, 52, and humanitarian worker Margaret Hassan, 59, were paraded on video to demand the withdrawal of British troops before being executed.