Iraqi group threatens to kill hostages

An Iraqi insurgent group threatened tonight to execute two Bulgarian hostages if the US military did not release all Iraqi detainees within 24 hours, according to a videotape broadcast on the al-Jazeera television station.

The group calling itself Monotheism and Jihad sent al-Jazeera a video showing the two unidentified Bulgarians sitting with their hands cuffed, flanked by three armed masked men.