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Severed fingers received in hostage drama

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FINGERS from five hostages held in Iraq for more than a year have reportedly been sent to US authorities in Baghdad.

Reports say DNA analysis has confirmed the fingers come from four Americans and an Austrian seized in November 2006.

However it is unknown whether the men were dead or alive when the fingers were cut off.

Austrian Bert Nussbaumer, 26, was seized with Americans Josh Munns, Jonathon Cote, Paul Johnson Reuben near Basra while they worked as security guards. Ronald Withrow was captured separately in the same area two months later.

There was no word on another security guard who was captured, John R. Young. None of the fingers received was his.

"I certainly don`t understand why my son`s wasn`t found. What does that mean?" his mother, Sharon DeBrabander, told US media.

"All we have right now is prayers," Mark Munns, the father of former Marine Joshua, said. "I don`t know how to make head or tails of what`s going on. Are they still alive?"

One of the men behind the website Save5, dedicated to the men, said he hoped the grim development might show the kidnappers wanted to prove they still had the captives and were ready to deal.

DNA match

The weekly magazine News first reported the five fingers had been received and that DNA analysis had shown them to come from the five hostages.

It said US authorities supplied the information to Austria but gave no other information about its source.

Austria`s Foreign Ministry Secretary-General Johannes Kyrle said a fingerprint and DNA sample from Mr Nussbaumer had been received by US authorities.

"We have reached no confirmed conclusions about the fate of Nussbaumer," he said.

The magazine quoted "authorities involved" as saying there was no certainty the hostages were alive when the fingers were removed.

It is understood the FBI is involved in the investigation.

The magazine said three messages had been sent by kidnappers but no financial or political demands had been received by Austria.

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