Al Qaeda group in Iraq said on Thursday it killed Egypt's top envoy to Iraq for representing a "tyrannical" government allied to the "Jews and Crusaders". "We al Qaeda in Iraq announce that the judgement of God has been implemented against the ambassador of the infidels, the ambassador of Egypt.
Oh enemy of God, Ihab el-Sherif, this is your punishment in this life," said the group in an Internet statement posted on an Islamist Web site.
The group, led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, posted a video showing the hostage speaking but not the actual killing.
A senior Egyptian official said that Cairo has no independent information about the fate of the envoy and is relying on media reports and Internet postings.
On the video, Sherif appeared blindfolded. He identified himself by name and said he was the head of the Egyptian mission in Iraq with ambassadorial rank in Egypt's foreign ministry.