WORLD / America
Al-Qaida: Captured US troops killed
(AP)
Updated: 2007-06-05 01:00
Al-Qaida linked insurgents killed three American soldiers after capturing
them last month in Iraq, according to a militant video released Monday
that claimed to show footage of the ambush. The video offered no proof
for its claims.
This is an image made from video obtained by the Washington-based SITE
Institute showing the identification cards of Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of
Waterford Township, Mich. and Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence,
Mass. According to the militant video released Monday, June 4, 2007,
Al-Qaida-linked insurgents killed three American soldiers after capturing
them last month in Iraq. [AP]
The clip, which was made available to The Associated Press by the
Washington-based SITE Institute, showed confused and jerky night battle
scenes, and later offered close-ups of two identification cards. It did
not show the soldiers.
"The Americans sent 4,000 soldiers looking for them," said an
unidentified voice on the video, which featured the logo of the media
production house of the Islamic State of Iraq. "They were alive and then
dead."
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The body of one of the soldiers was found in Iraq's Euphrates River, but
the other two remain missing. Family friends of the missing men said the
US military briefed relatives about the video over the weekend.
The video offered no proof for its claims that the soldiers had been
killed and buried. The voiceover blamed their deaths on "the American
Army and their leaders, who do not care for the feelings of the soldiers'
mothers."
"And as you refused to deliver the bodies of our killed people, we will
not deliver the bodies of your dead, and their end will be beneath the
ground, Allah willing," the voice said.
A body found May 23 in the Euphrates River was identified by the US
military as Pfc. Joseph Anzack Jr., 20, of Torrance, Calif. The missing
soldiers have been identified as Spc. Alex R. Jimenez, 25, of Lawrence,
Mass., and of Pvt. Byron W. Fouty, 19, of Waterford, Mich.
The three vanished after their combat team was ambushed May 12 about 20
miles outside Baghdad. Five others, including an Iraqi, were killed in
the ambush, subsequently claimed by al-Qaida.
The attack triggered a massive search in the area south of Baghdad known
as the "triangle of death" for the rampant insurgent activity there.
Gordon Dibler, Fouty's stepfather, said he was holding out hope for the
soldiers' safe return: "We're praying, and so far, we don't know for
certain that they aren't alive."
At the end of the 10-minute 41-second video, the identification cards of
the two missing soldiers were shown, with the headline: "Bush is the
reason of the loss of your POWs" written on the screen above the cards.
SITE, an organization that monitors terrorist groups, did not say how it
obtained the video. A card belonging to Anzack was not shown.
Along with the identification cards, the footage also showed credit
cards, American and Iraqi money and other personal items that the
militants called "booty."
There was no immediate word from US officials about the Islamic State of
Iraq claim.
The video also showed footage, apparently taken before the ambush, of
three masked men standing around a stand displaying a sketch of the area,
mapping out the attack plan. One of the three men, who were all dressed
in black, talked to the camera and pointed to the sketch. Another stood
by him carrying a gun.
"I have urged you to bring me American prisoners," said the man, whose
name was not given but was identified as one of the militant group's
leaders.
A Islamic Web site that commonly posts videos from militant groups
including the Islamic State of Iraq said in a banner headline that it
would show the video within hours, but the video has not yet appeared.
After the soldiers disappeared, the Islamic State of Iraq issued Web
statements warning the Americans to call off the hunt "if you want their
safety."
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