US hostage 'killed by Iraqi insurgent group'

An Iraqi insurgent group said today in an internet posting that it killed a kidnapped US security consultant. The claim’s authenticity could not be immediately verified.

It was the first time in more than a year that an insurgent group announced the killing of an American hostage.

Today’s statement, posted on an Islamic militant web forum, did not name the hostage and provided no evidence he had been killed, but said pictures of the slaying would be released later.

The Islamic Army in Iraq said it had killed “the American security consultant for the Housing Ministry,” after the US failed to respond to its demand of the release of Iraqi prisoners.

A video issued by the group was aired on Tuesday on the Arab television station Al-Jazeera showing the hostage – identified as Ronald Schulz, 40, an industrial electrician from Alaska – sitting with his hands tied behind his back.

The group yesterday blamed US President George Bush for failing to respond to its demands.

“The war criminal Bush continues his arrogance, giving no value to people’s lives unless they serve his criminal, aggressive ways. Since his reply (to the demands) was irresponsible, he bears the consequences of his stance,” the statement said.

“Therefore the American security consultant for the Housing Ministry was killed after the end of the deadline set to respond to the Islamic Army’s demands,” it said.

Iraq has seen a sudden spate of kidnappings of Westeners the past month after a relative lull in such abductions. The last time insurgents announced the killing of American hostages was September. 21, 2004, when al Qaida in Iraq announced the killing of Jack Hensley, a civil engineer from Marietta, Georgia, and Eugene “Jack” Armstrong, formerly of Hillsdale, Michigan. They had been abducted days before along with a British engineer Kenneth Bigley, who was also killed.

Another insurgent group, the Swords of Righteousness, has set a Saturday deadline, threatening to kill four Christian humanitarian workers abducted two weeks ago, including two Canadians, an American and a Briton. A French aid worker and a German citizen are also currently being held by kidnappers.