The Hindu : International : Confusion over fate of U.S. Marine

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Monday, Jul 05, 2004

International

International

Confusion over fate of U.S. Marine

By Atul Aneja

MANAMA, JULY 4. Confusion prevails over the fate of the a U.S. Marine who had been kidnapped last month, as a militant group known to have Al-Qaeda links has denied earlier reports that it had beheaded the soldier.

Two websites used by militants said on Saturday that the group, Ansar al-Sunna, had killed Wassef Ali Hassoun, a U.S. soldier of Lebanese origin. But Ansar al-Sunna has on its own website denied responsibility for the statement. "In order to maintain our credibility in all issues, we declare that this statement that was attributed to us has no basis of truth," the message on its website said. "Any statement that is not issued through our site doesn't represent us."

The Lebanese Foreign Ministry had earlier confirmed the claim that Mr. Hassoun had been killed. The Lebanese Foreign Minister, Jean Obeid, had condemned the `killing' and urged religious leaders to counter those claiming to carry out atrocities in the name of religion. But the Foreign Ministry later said that it had received information about the Marine's death, but maintained that this was "not official".

Saturday's statement on the two websites attributed to the Ansar al-Sunna said: "We beheaded the Marine of Lebanese origin Hassoun and you will see the film with your own eyes soon." The statement claimed it was holding another `infidel' captive, but did not give out further details. The Ansar al-Sunna had in February taken responsibility for the bombings in the Iraqi Kurdish city of Irbil, in which over 100 people were killed.

The Arabic television station, Al Jazeera had last Sunday aired a videotape where Mr. Hassoun was seen sitting blindfolded, surrounded by his captors, with one them holding a sword over his head.

The abductors had warned that the U.S. handover of authority to the interim Iraqi Government would not persuade them to limit attacks on Iraqi officials and foreign forces led by Americans. The militant group had earlier demanded freedom for all Iraqis who had been jailed by the U.S.-led occupation forces.

Meanwhile, with no let-up in guerilla attacks the Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, was considering an amnesty for those who had been fighting the U.S.-led occupation, and which could extend to cover those who have killed Americans.

People who were "in opposition against the Americans, and that will be justified because it was an occupation force," Georges Sada, Mr. Allawi's spokesman, said. "We will give them freedom."

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