Baghdad: Iraqi militants killed an American soldier they have held hostage for nearly three months, saying the killing was because the US Government did not change its policy in Iraq, Al-Jazeera television reported today (Jun 29, 2004).

News of the killing of Spc Keith M Maupin, 20, of Batavia, Ohio, came hours after the United States returned sovereignty in Iraq to an interim Government. The report did not say when Maupin was killed. Maupin was captured during an ambush on a convoy West of Baghdad on April 9.

The Arab satellite station aired video showing a blindfolded man sitting on the ground. Al-Jazeera said that in the next scene, gunmen shoot the man in the back of the head, in front of a hole dug in the ground. It did not show the killing.

Maj Willie Harris, public affairs spokesman for the Army's 88th Regional Readiness Command, said the videotape is being analyzed by the department of Defence.

"There is no confirmation at this time, that the tape contains footage of Matt Maupin or any other Army soldier," he said, adding that the Maupin family was briefed "as to the existence of a videotape".

Al-Jazeera said that a statement was issued with the video in the name of a group calling itself "The sharp sword against the enemies of God and His Prophet". In the statement, the militants said they killed the soldier because the US did not change its policies in Iraq and to avenge "martyrs" in Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Algeria.