Limeoutsider
10-11-2004, 02:00 PM
BAGHDAD, Iraq - An Islamic Web site on Monday showed the beheading of two hostages — one a Turkish contractor and the other an Iraqi Kurdish translator wearing a badge of the Titan security company.
A statement said the two were killed by the Ansar al-Sunnah Army, which also claimed responsibility for slaughtering 12 Nepalese workers and three Iraqi Kurds on Aug. 31.
Also Monday, the Arabic language television station Al-Arabiya broadcast a video showing three hooded gunmen threatening to behead another Turkish hostage within three days unless the Americans release all Iraqi prisoners and all Turks leave Iraq (news - web sites). A written statement appearing on the video showing the beheadings accused the Kurdish translator of participating in raids with U.S. troops in the Ramadi area. A second statement claimed the Turkish contractor was working for the Americans at an air base north of the capital. The Kurdish hostage identified himself as Luqman Hussein and said he worked with U.S. forces at an agricultural site in Ramadi. He said he was captured en route to Baghdad, about 70 miles east of Ramadi.
The tape did not say where the Turk was captured.
The videotape warned foreigners against coming to Iraq "for making cheap earthly profits by being allies with the Crusaders in their war on Islam." The tape broadcast by Al-Arabiya television showed three gunmen standing behind a hostage said to be a Turkish truck driver. One of the gunmen identified the kidnappers as members of Tawhid and Jihad, Iraq's most feared terror group that has been responsible for beheading several foreign hostages in Iraq. However, the tape did not feature the group's banner, which has always appeared in Tawhid and Jihad video statements. "We of the group of Tawhid and Jihad announce ... that we will cut off the head of this hostage if our demands are not met," the speaker said as the hostage's eyes darted from one side to another. "We have long warned them not to enter the land of Islam and land of Jihad, the land of Iraq." The video showed the hostage's passport but the name could not be determined. Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped more than 150 foreigners in their campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction. Most have been kidnapped for ransom and freed unharmed, but at least 28 have been killed by their abductors.
The Ansar al-Sunnah Army also claimed responsibility for beheading an Iraqi hostage in October, saying the man was an Iraqi contractor at the U.S. military base of Taji, north of Baghdad. It vowed to hunt down others helping the U.S. military. On Sunday, Al-Jazeera television said 10 employees of the Turkish construction company VISNAN have been freed by kidnappers. They were said to have been held by another Islamic group, the Salafist Brigades of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. The Ankara-based VINSAN company also could not confirm the release. An employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said efforts to have their employees released were continuing "positively." He could not give any further details.
(SUBS lead to correct that it was Kurdish translator STED Turkish contractor wearing security badge, UPDATES throughout with more details and killings claimed by Al-Sunnah Army; ADDS byline)
A statement said the two were killed by the Ansar al-Sunnah Army, which also claimed responsibility for slaughtering 12 Nepalese workers and three Iraqi Kurds on Aug. 31.
Also Monday, the Arabic language television station Al-Arabiya broadcast a video showing three hooded gunmen threatening to behead another Turkish hostage within three days unless the Americans release all Iraqi prisoners and all Turks leave Iraq (news - web sites). A written statement appearing on the video showing the beheadings accused the Kurdish translator of participating in raids with U.S. troops in the Ramadi area. A second statement claimed the Turkish contractor was working for the Americans at an air base north of the capital. The Kurdish hostage identified himself as Luqman Hussein and said he worked with U.S. forces at an agricultural site in Ramadi. He said he was captured en route to Baghdad, about 70 miles east of Ramadi.
The tape did not say where the Turk was captured.
The videotape warned foreigners against coming to Iraq "for making cheap earthly profits by being allies with the Crusaders in their war on Islam." The tape broadcast by Al-Arabiya television showed three gunmen standing behind a hostage said to be a Turkish truck driver. One of the gunmen identified the kidnappers as members of Tawhid and Jihad, Iraq's most feared terror group that has been responsible for beheading several foreign hostages in Iraq. However, the tape did not feature the group's banner, which has always appeared in Tawhid and Jihad video statements. "We of the group of Tawhid and Jihad announce ... that we will cut off the head of this hostage if our demands are not met," the speaker said as the hostage's eyes darted from one side to another. "We have long warned them not to enter the land of Islam and land of Jihad, the land of Iraq." The video showed the hostage's passport but the name could not be determined. Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped more than 150 foreigners in their campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction. Most have been kidnapped for ransom and freed unharmed, but at least 28 have been killed by their abductors.
The Ansar al-Sunnah Army also claimed responsibility for beheading an Iraqi hostage in October, saying the man was an Iraqi contractor at the U.S. military base of Taji, north of Baghdad. It vowed to hunt down others helping the U.S. military. On Sunday, Al-Jazeera television said 10 employees of the Turkish construction company VISNAN have been freed by kidnappers. They were said to have been held by another Islamic group, the Salafist Brigades of Abu Bakr al-Siddiq. The Ankara-based VINSAN company also could not confirm the release. An employee, speaking on condition of anonymity, said efforts to have their employees released were continuing "positively." He could not give any further details.
(SUBS lead to correct that it was Kurdish translator STED Turkish contractor wearing security badge, UPDATES throughout with more details and killings claimed by Al-Sunnah Army; ADDS byline)