Militants threaten to kill German hostages

An Iraqi militant group have threatened to kill two German engineers held hostage since January unless prisoners held by US forces are freed.

The two Germans were shown in a video posted on the internet today pleading for help.

The Germans were shown in front of a black banner emblazoned with the name of the militant group, Supporters of the Sunna and Tawhid, and one of them spoke for about 10 seconds.

“We’ve been held here as prisoners for more than 60 days now. We’re at the end of our nerves. Please help us. We can’t take it any more. Please help us,” one them said.

The men had beards and moustaches but were recognisable as engineers Thomas Nitzschke and Rene Braeunlich, who were kidnapped on January 24 in the northern city of Beiji.

“This is the last ultimatum for the two German agents,” said a written statement posted along with the video by the group.

“If you don’t fulfil our demands to release detained men and women from the occupation prisons and stop all support rendered to the Americans and their supporters … the just punishment will immediately be carried out against them,” the statement said.