Iraq insurgents claim to have killed US hostage

A STATEMENT signed by an Iraqi insurgent group said yesterday in an internet posting that it had killed a kidnapped US security consultant.

The claim’s authenticity could not be immediately verified.

The statement, posted on an Islamic militant web forum, did not identify the hostage and provided no pictures, video or other evidence he had been killed. It said pictures of the slaying would be released later. The US Embassy said it had no information to confirm the claim.