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Jihadists claim beheading of US journalist

JIHADIST group the Islamic State posted a video Tuesday showing the apparent execution of American journalist James Foley and threatened to kill a second reporter unless the United States halts air strikes in Iraq.

The video released by the Islamist group showed a masked militant beheading a man resembling Foley, who has been missing since he was seized in Syria in November 2012.

A second captive, said to be US reporter Steven Sotloff, is shown alive, along with a warning that his fate rests on US President Barack Obama ordering a halt to strikes against the jihadist group.

"We have never been prouder of our son Jim. He gave his life trying to expose the world to the suffering of the Syrian people," Foley's mother Diane said in a Facebook message to supporters.

"We implore the kidnappers to spare the lives of the remaining hostages. Like Jim, they are innocents. They have no control over American government policy in Iraq, Syria or anywhere in the world.

"We thank Jim for all the joy he gave us. He was an extraordinary son, brother, journalist and person. Please respect our privacy in the days ahead as we mourn and cherish Jim."

The White House said US intelligence was studying the video, and that President Barack Obama had been briefed on it as he flew from Washington to resume his vacation on Martha's Vineyard.

"If genuine, we are appalled by the brutal murder of an innocent American journalist and we express our deepest condolences to his family and friends," National Security Council spokeswoman Caitlin Hayden said.




 

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