The family of Margaret Hassan, the murdered aid worker, have accused British diplomats of refusing to help them to confront alleged members of the Iraqi gang that kidnapped her.

The trial of two men, which starts tomorrow, almost certainly represents the family’s best chance of ending a four-year search for her remains. One of the accused was arrested after allegedly attempting to trade information about their location for cash and a safe haven in Britain.

Ali Lutfi Jassar al-Rawi, also known as Abu Rasha, was arrested by US special forces and Iraqi police in August. He has been charged with inciting, planning or assisting terrorism. The family say that they have been shown evidence that proves that he was a member of the gang that kidnapped Margaret Hassan, held her captive for three weeks and then murdered her.

Mrs Hassan’s three sisters and brother have said that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is refusing to send an official from the British Embassy to attend the trial or give evidence because it is too dangerous.

In a statement Michael, Deirdre, Geraldine and Kathryn Fitzsimons said: “Our only solution is for a family member to travel to Baghdad. This may be the only chance of getting justice for Margaret and perhaps begging these men to tell the family the whereabouts of her remains.”

Margaret Hassan was kidnapped on October 19, 2004, when two cars containing eight gunmen ambushed the aid worker as she was travelling to work in Baghdad. It is thought that she was murdered 15 days later near the farmhouse in Arab Jabour, a hostile stretch of palm groves and fields south of Baghdad, where she was held. Diplomatic sources said that the area had been searched but that further information was needed to provide a real chance of success.

A Foreign Office official said that it was “providing full consular assistance” to the family and remained in close touch about the trial.

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