Zarqawi Group threatens to Kill Hostages in Iraq
Pakistan Times Wire Service

DOHA (Qatar): The group of suspected al-Qaeda operative Abu Musab al-Zarqawi has threatened to execute two Americans and a Briton, it is holding unless Iraqi women held in two prisons are freed within 48 hours, according to a video aired by an Arabic television which showed the captives blindfolded.

Key terror suspect beamed the threat to kill hostages via a broadcast and video showing the three hostages being held in Iraq. In the video, al Zarqawi demands the release of all Iraqi women prisoners within the next 48 hours.

He says if his demands are not met, he will kill the three men.

Masked Man

The footage shows a masked man stood reading from a piece of paper and standing behind three blindfolded men who are kneeling on the floor.

The British man was named Friday as 62-year-old Kenneth Bigley, who is employed by Gulf Supplies and Commercial Services.

The twice-married father-of-one from the Liverpool area had been in Baghdad shortly after the invasion, having lived in the Middle-East for several years.

Both Americans who were kidnapped with him worked for the same company and lived in the same compound.

Of the Attacks

Al Zarqawi's group has claimed responsibility for many attacks in Iraq, including the kidnapping of foreign workers and suicide bombings that have killed Iraqi officials.

The US has offered a $25m reward for the capture of Jordanian al Zarqawi, its top militant target in Iraq who it says is allied with al-Qaeda.●