Blasts amid beheading threat

Militants loyal to suspected al-Qaida terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi threatened to behead three Turkish hostages, fanning tensions as President George W Bush visited Turkey. The death toll rose to more than 20 in an explosion south of Baghdad.

The kidnappers said the hostages would be killed unless Turkish companies stop doing business with American forces in Iraq and called for protests in Turkey against Bush’s visit.