PARIS, Dec 8: The Islamic Army in Iraq, an extremist Sunni group, said in an Internet statement on Thursday it has killed an American contractor it was holding hostage. The Islamic Army, which has claimed responsibility for several kidnappings and murders in Iraq in the past, had said in a video statement on Tuesday it would kill the hostage in within 48 hours unless all prisoners in Iraq were released.

“The American pig, the adviser to the ministry of housing, has been killed after the deadline has passed,” said the Internet statement.

“We will show the images (of his execution) shortly.”

The video broadcast on Al Jazeera television on Tuesday showed the cover of a US passport and a bank card bearing the name of Ronald Schulz.

Mr Schulz’s brother told his local paper this week that he was an industrial electrician who was thought to have been on his way to Jordan when he went missing.—AFP