Iraq Qaeda says to kill Russian hostages

DUBAI, June 21: A militant group led by al Qaeda in Iraq said today it has decided to kill four Russian hostages after Moscow failed to meet demands to withdraw from Chechnya and free Muslim prisoners, according to an Internet statement.

''After granting the Russian government 48 hours to meet our demands and their failure to do so ... the Islamic court of the Mujahideen Shura Council ruled to kill them (hostages),'' said the statement posted on a Web site often used by militants.

Reuters