Insurgents threaten to kill US Marine as Iraq begins self-rule

INSURGENTS threatened to behead a kidnapped US Marine and a Pakistani driver unless the Americans release all Iraqis in “occupation jails,” according to a videotape on Arab television.

In a separate stand-off, Turkey rejected demands by militants holding three Turkish hostages.

The family of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun confirmed he was the kidnapped marine who appeared in a videotape shown on Sunday. The US military said Cpl Hassoun, a Muslim of Middle Eastern origin, was last seen June 19 and did not report for duty the next day.