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Iraqi insurgents claim death of American
(AP)
Updated: 2005-12-09 08:35
A statement signed by an Iraqi insurgent group said Thursday in an Internet
posting that it killed a kidnapped U.S. security consultant. The White House
said it could not confirm the death.
The statement, posted on an Islamic militant Web forum, did not name the
hostage and provided no pictures, video or other evidence he had been killed. It
said pictures of the slaying would be released later. The U.S. Embassy said it
had no information to confirm the claim.
White House press secretary Scott McClellan said he could not confirm the
death and said he had no additional information on the matter. "Any time there
is an American that is taken hostage it is a priority for the administration,
and their safe return is a priority for the administration," he said.
It was the first time in more than a year that a group from the Sunni-led
insurgency announced the slaying of an American hostage. Another American was
killed in August, and police blamed Shiite militants.
The Islamic Army in Iraq said it had killed "the American security consultant
for the Housing Ministry," after the United States failed to respond to its
demand of the release of Iraqi prisoners.
A video issued by the group was broadcast Tuesday on Al-Jazeera showing the
hostage ¡ª identified as Ronald Schulz, 40, an industrial electrician from Alaska
¡ª sitting with his hands tied behind his back.
This still image made from video and released
Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2005 by IntelCenter, a government contractor that does
support work for the U.S. intelligence community, shows the chained hands
of hostages Briton Norman Kember, left, and American Tom
Fox.[AP] | The group Thursday blamed President Bush for failing to respond to its
demands.
"The war criminal Bush continues his arrogance, giving no value to people's
lives unless they serve his criminal, aggressive ways. Since his reply (to the
demands) was irresponsible, he bears the consequences of his stance," the
statement said.
"Therefore the American security consultant for the Housing Ministry was
killed after the end of the deadline set to respond to the Islamic Army's
demands," it said.
On Tuesday, Bush said the United States will work for the return of captive
Americans in Iraq but would not submit to terrorist tactics. "We, of course,
don't pay ransom for any hostages," Bush said.
"What we will do, of course, is use our intelligence-gathering to see if we
can't help locate them," Bush said.
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