Militants deny killing captured US soldier

AN Islamic militant group denied yesterday it had beheaded a US marine missing in Iraq, leaving the fate of the Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun unclear.

Fears for Lebanese-born marine had risen after a statement appeared on two Islamist websites on Saturday saying the Army of Ansar al-Sunna had decapitated him. The denial by the Ansar al-Sunna Army group left open the possibility that the 24-year-old American of Lebanese origin was killed by another group or that he was still alive.

A Lebanese Foreign Ministry official in Beirut said Cpl Hassoun was believed to be dead and that Lebanese officials in Iraq were trying to track down his body. Later, however, Lebanese Foreign Minister Jean Obeid said news of the death "was not official." In Lebanon, Cpl Hassoun's brother, Sami, said the family had no confirmation the marine was killed.