US hostage beheaded in Iraq

What would be the fourth decapitation of a foreign hostage, an Iraqi militant group claims to have beheaded an American.

An Iraqi militant group claimed on a Web site on Sunday that it had beheaded a captive US Marine, in what would be the fourth decapitation of a foreign hostage in the region since May.

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The group, called the Ansar al-Sunna Army, posted a written statement on an Islamic web site claiming that it had killed Lebanese-born Wassef Ali Hassoun.

It also said it had taken another hostage but did not give details.

"We would like to inform you that the Marine of Lebanese origin, Hassoun, has been slaughtered. You are going to see the video with your very eyes soon," said the statement, signed in the name of the group's leader, Abu Abdullah al-Hassan bin Mahmoud.

The US military in Baghdad said it was checking into the report of the 24-year-old Hassoun's death but had no confirmation for the moment.

It was not immediately possible to verify the authenticity of the group's statement.

The group called itself the Ansar al-Sunna Army in Qaim, a town on the Iraqi border with Syria that has seen frequent clashes between US troops and militants. The message was dated June 20, the day the military said Hassoun was first reported missing.

"We will show a new video of the detention of a new infidel hostage and as recently promised, the beheading of rotten heads," the statement said.

"Withdraw your army and you will be safe," it said.