Missing Briton: Police issue pictures of suspect

Police searching for British backpacker Peter Falconio have released security pictures of a man fitting the description of his suspected kidnapper.

The images of the man and his white pick-up truck were taken by a security video camera at a service station in Alice Springs on July 15, the day after Mr Falconio was last seen alive.

The man's canvas-covered vehicle is shown parked in the truck area. The man is seen in the shop, where police said he bought ice and water.

The pictures were released as police said a man's body found by a roadside in the Outback was unlikely to be that of the missing 28-year-old.

Northern Territory Police said they believed the discovery was "unconnected" to the disappearance. A post-mortem examination is due to be held but police believe that it would confirm their suspicions.

The body was found more than 200 miles from where Mr Falconio, from Hepworth, near Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, and his girlfriend Joanne Lees were ambushed as they drove along the Stuart Highway.

A police spokeswoman said the body, found 40 miles south of Alice Springs, was wearing different clothing from those Mr Falconio was wearing when he was last seen alive.

She said: "We believe this discovery is unconnected. We are not 100% sure that it is not Mr Falconio but this body is not wearing the same clothing as he was when he was last seen."

Police have yet to identify the body or establish a cause of death. The body was discovered by locals close to the Stuart Highway.

Mr Falconio and Miss Lees were ambushed as they travelled in their VW van about 190 miles north of Alice Springs. Miss Lees, 27, from Almondbury, near Huddersfield, told police she was tied up and gagged but managed to struggle free and escape into the bush.