US hostage killing raises concern in Iraq

Concerning the issue of hostages and finding one body in Baghdad, the British foreign office expressed concern over the safety of other hostages.

In Baghdad, a source in the ministry of interior said today that the American hostage Tom Fox was found killed by bullets and was found in a deserted area west of the capital Baghdad.

The source explained that the Iraqi police found on Thursday the body of Tom Fox in al-Mansour area hit by bullets and traces of torture on his back, while one eyewitness in the area said that the body is for a slim man wearing sport garments and wrapped by a blanket, thrown near the garbage in a deserted area situated between two schools in the quarters.

A group calling itself "groups of the swords of righteousness" claimed responsibility for kidnapping Fox (54 years old) and other three westerners. They are two Canadians and one British in November 2005. The four kidnapped men are members of Christian Peacemaker Teams non- governmental organization.

After announcing the discovery of Fox body, the British foreign office secretary Jack Straw expressed sadness over the killing of the American hostage in Iraq, noting that this raises the concern over the fate of other hostages.