DUBAI, Oct 28 (AFP) - The Al-Qaeda-linked Army of Ansar al-Sunna has executed 11 members of the Iraqi national guard it had abducted, the group said in a statement posted Thursday on its website along with photographs.
"The ruling of God has been implemented against them by slaughtering one and killing the others by firing squad," said the statement, whose authenticity could not be confirmed.
The group had on Tuesday announced the abduction of 11 national guardsmen south of Baghdad.
"We informed you in a previous statement... that 11 apostates from the militia affiliated to the crusader forces -- the national guard -- were ambushed and kidnapped on the Baghdad-Hilla road," said the statement.
"The investigation and their confessions showed that this force was assigned with the task of protecting the US crusader occupation forces in Radwaniya and its surroundings south of the capital Baghdad," it said.
One of the photographs showed the beheaded man with his head placed on his back. Other pictures showed his slain colleagues with their hands tied behind their backs.
The group warned that anyone "serving the crusaders and their puppet, the collaborator Iraqi government," would meet the same fate.
The Army of Ansar al-Sunna has posted videos and photos on its website showing the killing of several foreign hostages and Iraqis accused of "collaborating" with US forces.
It killed 12 Nepalese workers in late August after taking them hostage.
Iraq's fledgling security forces have been a favorite target for insurgents.
10/28/2004 13:49 GMT - AFP