Iraq group says it killed Japanese hostage
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-05-28 14:01

Islamic militant group Army of Ansar al-Sunna said it has killed a Japanese hostage and posted footage allegedly showing his bloodied body, according to an Internet video.

The video showed identification papers and a passport bearing the name of Akihiko Saito, 44, a former paratrooper and veteran of the French Foreign Legion, who had been missing in Iraq since May 8.

The footage, which was not dated but was seen by Reuters on Saturday, showed the body of a dead man lying on his back with blood covering his face. He appeared to resemble Saito's pictures.

Hironobu Saito, the younger brother of Akihiko Saito, speaks to reporters in front of his home in Chiba, east of Tokyo May 28, 2005. Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported that a militant group has released a new statement and footage via a website saying that they have killed Japanese citizen Akihiko Saito who was captured in an ambush in Iraq earlier this month. [Reuters]

The Japanese Foreign Ministry said it was trying to confirm if the body was Saito's, a ministry spokesman said.

"We have not confirmed that," said Akira Chiba, assistant press secretary for the foreign ministry, adding that confirmation was difficult from simply watching the footage.

Japanese Foreign Minister Nobutaka Machimura speaks to reporters at the Foreign Ministry in Tokyo May 28, 2005. Local Japanese media reported that a militant group has released new statement and footage via a website saying they have killed Japanese citizen Akihiko Saito who was captured in an ambush in Iraq earlier this month. [Reuters]

A statement accompanying the video said the group shot and killed Saito.

ID papers said Saito worked as a security manager. The name Hart GMSSCO was written on the same document.

Army of Ansar al-Sunna, one of the main Sunni Muslim insurgent groups, has claimed responsibility for attacks against U.S. forces and the Iraqi government and killed several hostages.