Nepalese Hostages Killed in Iraq

August 31, 2004

Author: Staff Writer

Source: BBC News

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3614866.stm

Twelve Nepalese hostages have been killed by their captors in Iraq.

A Nepalese diplomat confirmed the deaths hours after images were put on a website, apparently showing one man being beheaded and 11 being shot dead.

Nepal's ambassador to Qatar, Shyamanand Suman, said it was one of the "worst days" in his country's history.

The militants said the 12 Nepalis had been killed because they "came from their country to fight the Muslims and to serve the Jews and the Christians".

The group, Army of Ansar al-Sunna, said the men were being punished for helping the US, and it had "carried out the sentence of God" against them.