Bulgarian hostage killed in Iraq

The video purportedly showed captors with a Bulgarian hostage

A Bulgarian truck driver taken hostage in Iraq has been beheaded by the militant group holding him, the Bulgarian government has confirmed.

Arab television station al-Jazeera said the captors threatened to kill a second Bulgarian man by Wednesday evening.

Bulgaria, which has 500 troops in southern Iraq, says there will be no change in its policy.

But the Philippines is organising the withdrawal of its troops, as a Filipino hostage faces another death threat.

Angelo de la Cruz was threatened with execution unless the Philippines pulled its troops out of Iraq.

The Philippines authorities have said the troops - due to leave on 20 August - will be withdrawn as soon as possible.

The US and Australia have criticised Manila's decision, saying a withdrawal could send the wrong signal to Iraqi militants.

Kidnappers are also threatening to kill Egyptian hostage Mohammad al-Gharabawi unless his Saudi firm leaves Iraq within 72 hours, al-Jazeera reported on Tuesday.

Identity uncertain

Al-Jazeera said it had received a video showing the killing purportedly by the al-Tahid and Jihad Group, but had decided not to broadcast the graphic sections of the tape.

HOSTAGES KILLED 14 April: Fabrizio Quattrocchi, 36, Italian security guard is shot dead 11 May: Nick Berg, 26, US businessman is beheaded 22 June: Kim Sun-il, 33, South Korean translator is beheaded 29 June: Keith Maupin, 20, US soldier is reportedly killed (not confirmed) 13 July: Bulgarian hostage killed

The video showed one of the Bulgarians - wearing an orange garment similar to those worn by other hostages before they were killed - kneeling in front of three masked men dressed in black.

It has not been officially confirmed which of the two hostages, both truck drivers, was killed. However, reports suggest it was Georgi Lazov, who was seized in northern Iraq along with Ivaylo Kepov.

Mr Lazov's mother said that she "sensed" it was her son.

"I don't blame anyone in Bulgaria, everything that could be done was done," she said.

News of the Bulgarian's execution has caused deep shock and sadness in the country.

Officials in Sofia said the kidnappers had called for the release of women prisoners in Iraq - a demand it was not in Bulgaria's power to meet.

A joint statement from the president, prime minister and speaker of parliament stressed there would be no change in their policy.

"Bulgaria must continue to help Iraq in its reconstruction, stabilisation and democratic development," they said.

Bulgaria sent diplomats to Iraq to try to negotiate the men's freedom, but had vowed it would not change its policy on sending troops to the country.

It currently has a 485-member battalion in Iraq, which serves alongside Ukrainian troops under Polish command.

Al-Tahid and Jihad Group is believed to be headed by Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a suspected ally of Osama Bin Laden's al-Qaeda network.

The group has claimed responsibility for the beheading of US businessman Nick Berg and South Korean translator Kim Sun-il.