ISTANBUL (CIHAN) - The killing of a Turkish hostage Murat Yüce in Iraq by militants of the Tawhid and Jihad group prompted suspicions that Turkish militants were involved.
Murat Yuce, who was working at a US base as a cleaner, was killed yesterday by militants of the Tawhad and Jihad group of Abu Musab Al Zarkavi an ally of Al Qaeda.
However, one militant, not seen in the video, says in Turkish "Önce o baslasin"-in English, First he should start speaking. The same person later says, "Taman öldü, öldü"- in English, Ok he is dead, dead, following the shooting. These statements bring to mind the possibility of Turkish militants among the Tawhid and Jihad group.
The Turkish channel NTV claim that the man who is speaking Turkish in the video and instructing other militants to shoot the hostage in the head is Habip Aktas who organized and masterminded last November`s Istanbul blasts.
The text read by Murat Yüce before the shooting was also well prepared and contains correct Turkish language.
"I stayed here to earn a bit of money ... I advise every Turkish citizen coming to work in Iraq not to carry weapons to help the American occupiers," Murat Yüce said in a text in Turkish.
The text appears to have been prepared by another Turk. However, the captors had not made any demand from Turkey or the company Murat Yüce was working for. The Turkih Radikal daily claims that the intention of the militants was just to kill "a Turk."
The Tawhid and Jihad group still holds two Turkish drivers as hostages and the deadline to meet the captors` demands ended last night. However, there have been no reports of a release or killing.
Turkish drivers Abdurrahman Demir and Sait Unurlu were abducted by militants of the Abu Musab Al Zarkavi. The drivers were carrying supplies to US forces.
The captors had threatened to behead the Turkish hostages unless Turkish construction firms operating in Iraq leave the country within 48 hours. It was not clear when the drivers were abducted.
Nearly 10 Turks have been taken hostage in Iraq and five of them were released while two have reportedly been killed.