A British hostage appeared on a video posted on an Islamic website weeping and pleading for his life as Iraq’s leader and US officials stifled reports a high-profile female Iraqi weapons scientist could be released from jail soon - as demanded by his captors.

WITH time running out for British hostage Kenneth Bigley, US and Iraqi officials said last night they would not free female Iraqi prisoners as demanded by an al-Qaida ally whose group has already beheaded two Americans.

British hostage Kenneth Bigley’s life was tonight in the blood-stained hands of a terrorist who has severed the heads of two other captives.

Two high-profile women prisoners in American custody will not be released immediately, the US embassy said in Baghdad despite an earlier announcement by Iraqi authorities.

COALITION forces have taken custody of the Iraqi scientist known as ‘Dr Germ’ for her work in creating weapons-grade anthrax, according to Pentagon officials, who said they also had initial field reports that the head of Saddam Hussein’s military has been captured.

Coalition forces have arrested the Iraqi scientist known as Dr Germ for her work in creating weapons-grade anthrax, officials said today.

Coalition forces have captured one of Iraq’s top biological weapons scientists dubbed Chemical Sally.

American special forces today raided the Baghdad home of the female microbiologist nicknamed Dr Germ who ran Iraq’s secret biological laboratory.