British hostage killed, Iraqi government welcomes al-Sader proposal

The killing of the British hostage Kenneth Begley was confirmed at the hands of his kidnappers after a video tape showed his execution operation.

Begley was shown in the tape while reading a statement while 6 men were standing behind him before one of them beheaded him.

News reports quoted sources said that the British hostage was beheaded near Baghdad on Thursday afternoon in al-Lietfeh town to the southern west of Baghdad.

This came after the British Sky news station quoted sources in the British cabinet on the killing of Begley.

Al-Tawhid Wal-Jihad groups which is linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi announced in September the kidnapping of the British engineer in Baghdad with two Americans and later beheaded the two Americans and kept Begley.

In al-Sader city to the east of Baghdad, one American military official announced the killing of three gunmen by one American missile while they were trying to implant an explosive in the city yesterday morning.

Meantime, news reports said that one American vehicle was destroyed in the clashes which were renewed yesterday in al-Sader city after Friday's prayers. Several persons were injured when gunmen challenged an American patrol while trying to enter the city.

This however coincides with the Interim Iraqi government welcome by the minister of state for security affairs Qasdem Dawoud that supporters of the Shiite leader Muqtada al-Sader accepted to hand over the heavy and medium arms.

Al-Sader's assistance Ali Sumeisem demanded the government to provide necessary guarantees for not trying al-Sader's supporters and to release the prisoners as a precondition for this step, stressing that the agreement will be valid if the Iraqi government approves it.

Moreover, Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Darraji stressed readiness of al-Sader trend to take part in the next elections but under the condition the elections are free.