Iraq militants threaten to kill American [View All]

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BAGHDAD (AP) — Militants on Saturday threatened to kill and mutilate Thomas Hamill, an American civilian captured during the ambush of a convoy west of Baghdad. Also Saturday, the kidnappers of three Japanese taken hostage in Iraq said they will release them within 24 hours, the Arabic news channel Al-Jazeera reported.

The kidnappers of the Japanese, identifying themselves as the "Muhahedeen Squadron," said they made the decision after mediation by the Islamic Clerics Committee, an Iraqi Sunni Muslim organization, Al-Jazeera reported.

In a statement, the kidnappers urged the Japanese public to press their government to withdraw its troops from Iraq, the station said.

Videotape delivered to Al-Jazeera, as well as Associated Press Television News, on Thursday showed the three Japanese — two aid workers and a journalist — blindfolded and threatened by masked men with guns and knives.

The kidnappers threatened to burn the hostages alive if Japan did not promise within three days to pull its troops out of Iraq.



Above photo: Thomas Hamill, shown in this undated image from a videotape given to the Al-Jazeera television network, was captured in a convoy ambush.
AP

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http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2004-04-11-hostage_x.htm?csp=24

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