Militants threaten to behead six hostages

A MILITANT group said yesterday it had taken six more hostages - three Indians, two Kenyans and an Egyptian - and would behead them if their countries did not immediately announce the withdrawal of their citizens from Iraq.

The US death toll since the start of the war rose to 900 when a roadside bomb killed a soldier.

The seizure of the hostages came a day after a Filipino truck driver was released in exchange for Manila's withdrawal of its 51-member troop contingent, a move criticised by Washington and other allies as encouraging more abductions. Those fears seemed to be realised with the new kidnappings.