Cooks murdered 'for serving Jews'

A militant Islamic group in Iraq executed 12 Nepalese hostages who had been working as cooks and cleaners for US forces.

Islamist group Ansar al- Sunna claimed it killed the Nepalese hostages, without negotiations, because "they came from their country to fight and serve the Jews and Christians".

The Nepalese government condemned the killings, saying its people had nothing to do with the US invasion and occupation of Iraq.

Meanwhile, France was calling on Arab political and religious leaders to help save two of its journalists who have been k idnapped by the "Islamic Army of Iraq".

The group has said Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot will die if France does not lift a ban on Muslim headscarves in state schools.