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| An undated photograph of Peter Kassig with his parents Ed and Paula Kassig |
The parents of the American hostage in Syria, Peter Kassig, have called for restraint in publishing the jihadist propaganda video released on Sunday which claims that he has been killed and beheaded.
The video, more graphic than those showing previous murders of hostages, shows 18 Syrian soldiers having their heads cut off by jihadists from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (Isil).
It concludes with the British-accented fighter known as Jihadist John standing over what appears to be the head of Mr Kassig.
"This is Peter Edward Kassig, a U.S. citizen, of your country," he says, pointing his knife at the camera as he did in previous films, and addressing himself to President Barack Obama. "To Obama, the dog of Rome, today we are slaughtering the soldiers of Bashar and tomorrow we will be slaughtering your soldiers."
The American and British governments both said they were examining the video and trying to authenticate it. Ed and Paula Kassig, who had made personal appeals to Isil to release their son, said in a statement they were aware of the news and awaiting confirmation. » | Richard Spencer in Gaziantep, Magdy Samaan, Andrew Marszal and Louisa Loveluck | Sunday, November 16, 2014
