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.

Hostage Jack Hensley’s brother said today that he believes a headless body handed over to US officials in Iraq is his brother, though there was still no official confirmation.