Baghdad, May 12: An Islamic militant website has shown a video apparently showing the beheading of an American in Iraq. The video showed five men in headscarves and ski masks cutting off the man's head with a knife. The group, thought to be linked to al-Qaeda, said it was carrying out the killing in retaliation for the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by US soldiers.
It was titled "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American". The CIA is said to be checking to see whether Zarqawi - a senior al-Qaeda operative accused of masterminding multiple bomb attacks against US forces in Iraq - was actually in the video. Washington vowed to find the killers. "It shows the true nature of the enemies of freedom," said White House spokesman Scott McClellan. "They have no regard for the lives of innocent men, women and children. We will pursue those who are responsible and bring them to justice."
However, the victim's father said the US authorities were indirectly to blame for his death for failing to get him safely out of the country. Bureau Report