BBC News Wednesday, 27 July, 2005, 14:49 GMT 15:49 UK
Al-Qaeda 'kills Algerian envoys'
Video image purporting to show Ali Balarousi (right) and Azzedin Belkadi, Algerian diplomats kidnapped in Iraq
Both men are seen giving their names and addresses in the video
A group claiming to be al-Qaeda in Iraq says it has killed two Algerian diplomats, in a website statement.
The authenticity of the claim has not been verified.
Ali Balarousi, Algeria's top envoy to the country, and his colleague, Azzedin Belkadi, were seized by armed gunmen in Baghdad last Thursday.
Their capture follows the abduction and killing earlier this month of Egypt's ambassador-designate in Iraq, which insurgents say they carried out.
"The head of the Algerian mission Ali Balarousi and the diplomat Azzedin Belkadi, whose government is ruling in violation of God's will, were killed," the statement said.
The two Algerians appeared in a video made public on Tuesday.
An earlier internet posting from the group, which is thought to be led by Jordanian-born militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, warned that the two men would be killed after being tried in an "al-Qaeda court".
Officials say insurgents have launched attacks on diplomats to try to dissuade Arab countries from raising the level of their diplomatic representation.
Cairo's decision to designate Ihab al-Sherif as ambassador made Egypt the first Arab country to upgrade ties with Iraq.
The US has been encouraging Arab countries to appoint ambassadors to Baghdad in an attempt to strengthen the new state and undermine the insurgency.
Algeria has withdrawn all its diplomats from Iraq following last week's abductions.
Al-Zarqawi's men are really hitting below the belt this time. Killing their felow Arab brothers who want peace and stability is way too wrong.