By Agencies

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The body of a British national who was working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and was kidnapped by unidentified gunmen has been found in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta, the organisation has said.

Khalil Rasjad Dale's body was found on Sunday on the outskirts of the city, which is the provincial capital of Balochistan province.

Safdar Hussein, a doctor who examined the body, said that Dale's throat had been slit.

His body was found dumped in an orchard, with a note attached to it saying that he had been killed because a ransom had not been paid to his captors, police said.

Ahsan Mahboob, the Quetta police chief, said the note attached to it read: "This is the body of Khalil who we have slaughtered for not paying a ransom amount."

Killing condemned

Dale was managing a Red Cross health progamme in Quetta when he was seized by unidentified gunmen in January this year.

The ICRC issued a statement confirming Dale's death on Sunday.

"The ICRC condemns in the strongest possible terms this barbaric act," Yves Daccord, the ICRC's director-general said in the statement.

"All of us at the ICRC and at the British Red Cross share the grief and outrage of Khalil's family and friends."

Dale was kidnapped by armed men from the Chaman Housing Scheme area in January, and had been working in the city since February 2011.

The area from where he was kidnapped is considered to be a high security zone, and is the location of most international organisations' offices, including the UN and several international NGOs.

William Hague, the British foreign minister, released a statement on Sunday condemning Dale's killing.

"This was a senseless and cruel act, targeting someone whose role was to help the people of Pakistan, and causing immeasurable pain to those who knew Mr Dale," he said.

Hague said that the UK government had been involved in "tireless efforts ... to secure his release".