MagicMtnDan
06-27-2004, 10:14 PM
AGHDAD, Iraq, June 27 A militant Iraqi group threatened Sunday night to behead an American marine it said it had abducted from a military base unless the United States released all Iraqi prisoners, according to a video broadcast on the Qatar-based television network Al Jazeera.
The video shows a man identified as Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun sitting on the ground in desert-patterned camouflage fatigues, with a thick blindfold over his eyes and a long, curved sword held over his head.
Marine officials said Sunday night that Corporal Hassoun, who is of Lebanese descent, had been missing since June 21.
http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/06/27/international/28host.jpg
The kidnappers belong to a little-known group called the Islamic Reaction, which referred to itself as the security wing of the 20th Revolution Regiment. They did not give a deadline for taking action but said Corporal Hassoun would be killed if their demands were not met.
The new beheading threat adds to the anxiety that has been steadily rising in Iraq with the approach of the transfer of sovereignty on Wednesday. Now five men three Turks and a Pakistani as well as the American face grisly execution if their countries do not bow to their captors' demands.
The video shows a man identified as Cpl. Wassef Ali Hassoun sitting on the ground in desert-patterned camouflage fatigues, with a thick blindfold over his eyes and a long, curved sword held over his head.
Marine officials said Sunday night that Corporal Hassoun, who is of Lebanese descent, had been missing since June 21.
http://graphics7.nytimes.com/images/2004/06/27/international/28host.jpg
The kidnappers belong to a little-known group called the Islamic Reaction, which referred to itself as the security wing of the 20th Revolution Regiment. They did not give a deadline for taking action but said Corporal Hassoun would be killed if their demands were not met.
The new beheading threat adds to the anxiety that has been steadily rising in Iraq with the approach of the transfer of sovereignty on Wednesday. Now five men three Turks and a Pakistani as well as the American face grisly execution if their countries do not bow to their captors' demands.