Hostage's Parents Slam US 'Terrorist Deal'

The family of a British hostage who died after being kidnapped in Iraq have criticized the US for an alleged deal that reportedly released a terrorist prisoner in exchange for the freedom of one of their son's colleagues last week. Peter Moore was freed after militant cleric Qais al-Khazali was released from custody. "I believe that you should not negotiate with terrorists, even though it's cost my son his life," said the father of Jason Swindlehurst, one of Moore's four bodyguards.

Swindlehurst's dad said if the US was going to negotiate with terrorists, officials should have done so sooner "when we might have had five lads come back as opposed to one." Swindlehurst's body and those of two other bodyguards, kidnapped in 2007, were turned over to Iraqi authorities last year. US officials have denied releasing al-Khazali for Moore's freedom.
(More Jason Swindlehurst stories.)