BAGHDAD, Sept 23: The British and Iraqi governments said on Thursday they would not bow to the demands of militants threatening to kill a British hostage, despite a video message from the captive pleading for his life.

The kidnappers say they will behead Kenneth Bigley unless all Iraqi women are freed from US-run jails. After a day of confusion on Wednesday over whether one of two Iraqi women in US custody in Iraq would be freed, the interim Iraqi government said in a statement that Prime Minister Iyad Allawi was not willing to allow her release.

"The government renews its call on the terrorists to release Kenneth Bigley forthwith and without condition," it said. In a speech to the US Congress in Washington, Mr Allawi reiterated his belief that Iraq's fledgling security forces would prevail against the insurgents, as well as the widespread violence which threatens elections scheduled for January.

"In Iraq, we confront both an insurgency and the global war on terror, with their destructive forces sometimes overlapping," he said. "I can tell you today they will not succeed."

Italy's government dismissed two Internet statements saying two female Italian aid workers kidnapped in Iraq had been killed, saying there was no evidence to confirm the claims.

The two were seized in broad daylight in Baghdad earlier this month. Last Thursday, Mr Bigley and Americans Eugene Armstrong and Jack Hensley were also seized by gunmen in Baghdad.

In a video message released by the kidnappers, 62-year-old Bigley was shown pleading for his life and appealing to British Prime Minister Tony Blair for help. -Reuters