Fresh hope for hostage

2004-07-04 17:43

Baghdad - The US military on Sunday said it was "delighted" after fresh hope emerged for a marine held hostage in Iraq following reports he had been beheaded.

The al-Qaeda linked Ansar al-Sunna group denied knowledge of a statement issued late on Saturday announcing it had carried out its threat to decapitate Lebanese-born Wassef Ali Hassoun.

"We were suspicious about the initial announcement. We were not convinced about the credibility of the information," a senior US military official said on condition of anonymity.

"We are absolutely delighted to hear that the group decided not to kill him and we strongly advise the group to return him safely and securely," the official added.

Hassoun's death was announced late on Saturday in a statement posted on Islamist websites.

Ansar al-Sunna on Sunday denied making the announcement but the fate of Hassoun, who has been missing since June 21, remained a mystery as the group failed to confirm he was still alive.

"The media, citing the Lebanese foreign minister, has said that the army of Ansar al-Sunna executed an American hostage of Lebanese origin, kidnapped in Iraq," the group said.

The latest statement, titled "A denial by the Ansar al-Sunna army of the statement on the execution of the American soldier of Lebanese origin," was posted on http://ansar-alsonnah.8m.com.

The militant group also said it was holding another "infidel" hostage without specifying a nationality or the circumstances of the kidnapping.

- AFP