By NNN-KUNA
London : British Prime Minister Gordon Brown has held talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki here as efforts to achieve enhanced security and stability in Iraq continues.
The two prime ministers discussed Thursday the current developments in Iraq and the plight of the British hostages — who have now been captive for more than six months — at a meeting in Downing Street, Brown’s official spokesman said.
They also considered progress with reconciling ethnic groups in Iraq, and rebuilding the country’s shattered economy.
Brown has previously demanded the release of the hostages, who have not been named. In a video which emerged on Dec 5 the captors threatened to kill the men unless British troops were pulled out of Iraq.
The group were seized by a crowd of about 40 gunmen dressed in police uniforms at the Iraqi Finance Ministry in Baghdad on May 29.
A Downing Street spokesman said Thursday: “The Prime Minister and Prime Minister Maliki discussed the need for reconciliation in Iraq, UK support to Basra economic development, and the ongoing hostage situation.”
Maliki recently arrived here to have “routine medical check-up.”