Posted on 05/12/2004 12:16:42 AM PDT by JohnHuang2
An Islamic website has posted a video of an American man being beheaded by al-Qaida-affiliated terrorists, apparently in revenge for abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. forces.
The man, dressed in an orange jumpsuit, identifies himself on the video as Nick Berg, 26, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad on Saturday, the Associated Press reported.
"My name is Nick Berg, my father's name is Michael, my mother's name is Susan," the man said on the video. "I have a brother and sister, David and Sarah. I live in ... Philadelphia."
Standing behind the man are five terrorists wearing black ski masks.
The men read a statement before using a large knife to decapitate Berg. As they killed him, they shouted, ""Allahu Akbar!" or "God is great." The terrorists then held the head out to be seen by the camera.
"I knew he was decapitated before. That manner is preferable to a long and torturous death. But I didn't want it to become public," Berg's father, Michael, told AP.
This statement was read by the killers on the video:
"For the mothers and wives of American soldiers, we tell you that we offered the U.S. administration to exchange this hostage with some of the detainees in Abu Ghraib [prison] and they refused.
"So we tell you that the dignity of the Muslim men and women in Abu Ghraib and others is not redeemed except by blood and souls. You will not receive anything from us but coffins after coffins ... slaughtered in this way."
Reuters reports the statement also included: "Nation of Islam, is there any excuse left to sit idly by? And how can free Muslims sleep soundly as they see Islam being slaughtered, honor bleeding, photographs of shame and reports of Satanic degradation of the people of Islam, men and women, in Abu Ghraib prison?"
The video – shown on the Muntada al-Ansar Islamist website, which known as a clearinghouse for Muslim extremists – had the title "Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American." It was unclear whether al-Zarqawi, a lieutenant of Osama bin Laden, was shown in the video, or was claiming responsibility for ordering the execution, the news service reported.
Berg's mother explained he was in Iraq to help rebuild communication antennas.
"He had this idea that he could help rebuild the infrastructure," she told AP.
The Pentagon confirmed a U.S. civilian was found dead in Iraq but did not release his identity.
The family says Berg was detained by Iraqi officials at a Mosul checkpoint.
"He was arrested and held without due process," Michael Berg told the Daily Local News of West Chester, Pa., at the time. "By the time he got out the whole area was inflamed with violence."
According to AP, the FBI on March 31 interviewed Berg's parents in West Chester. Jerri Williams, a spokeswoman for the Philadelphia FBI office, told The Philadelphia Inquirer the agency had been "asked to interview the parents regarding Mr. Berg's purpose in Iraq."
The Bergs filed suit in federal court in Philadelphia April 5, contending their son was being held illegally by the U.S. military. The next day Berg was released, telling his parents he hadn't been mistreated.
Since his disappearance April 9, the family says it has had little help from U.S. authorities trying to locate Berg.
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