AL-qaida threatens to kill us hostage

A US terrorism watchdog said al-Qaida's affiliate in Yemen is threatening to kill a US hostage who was kidnapped more than a year ago if its demands are not met.

The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors terrorist websites, said on Thursday it obtained a video by Yemen's al-Qaida offshoot featuring the hostage, who was identified as 33-year-old photojournalist Luke Somers.

Somers was kidnapped in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, in September 2013. The three-minute video released by the watchdog first shows Nasser bin Ali al-Ansi, a local al-Qaida figure, saying the US is "aware" of the militants' demands.

Then Somers gives a brief statement in English, saying he is certain his "life is in danger" and asking for help.

AP

(China Daily 12/05/2014 page11)