Bigley's family confirm execution

Ken Bigley's family have tonight confirmed that he has been killed.

Mr Bigley's younger brother Philip said the family believed the British government had done all it could "to secure the release of Ken".

Philip Bigley added: "It could be that the fate of Ken, (and fellow hostages) Eugene and Jack, was sealed from day one."

Britain's Foreign Secretary Jack Straw offered his condolences to the family after what he called a "barbaric murder following three weeks of terrible suffering".