July 29 (Bloomberg) -- Two more of the British hostages held in Iraq are probably dead, the British Broadcasting Corp. reported, citing its security correspondent.

The U.K. Foreign Office last week told the families of security guards Alan McMenemy and Alec Maclachlan that they had most likely died in captivity, according to the report. They were kidnapped in 2007 along with three other Britons at Baghdad’s Ministry of Finance by about 40 men disguised as Iraqi policemen.

Bodies of two of the five men were found last month with gunshot wounds, and the British government is now working to secure the release of Peter Moore, the fifth hostage, the BBC reported. The last proof of life was sent by his kidnappers in March, the broadcaster said.

“We hear information from a range of sources,” a Foreign Office spokesman in London said today, reading from a statement. “We continue to work intensively for the release of the hostages still held in this highly complex case and are extremely concerned for their safety.”

To contact the reporter on this story: Ed Johnson in Sydney at ejohnson28@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 29, 2009 04:51 EDT