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mage from a video released to the Al-Jazeera television network Saturday June 26, 2004 showing three Turkish men kidnapped by the Tawhid and Jihad movement, allegedly led by Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. A statement issued with the video threatened to execute the men within 72 hours unless Turkish companies ceased doing business with US forces in Iraq, an Al-Jazeera anchor said. The men, kneeling foreground, are holding their passports to the camera. (Xinhua/Reuters PHoto)

 ¡¡BAGHDAD, June 26 (Xinhuanet) -- The Al-Tawhid and AL-Jihad, the group linking to al-Qaida leader in Iraq Abu Mosab Al-Zarqawi,announced Saturday that it holds three Turkish worker hostages,threatening to behead the trio, al-Jazeera news channel reported.

    In a statement carried by the Doha-based TV channel, the groupsaid that it would behead the Turkish hostages in 72 hours if Ankara did not order all Turkish companies operating in Iraq to leave the country.

    They also demanded the Turkish public to demonstrate against US President George W. Bush's visit to Turkey for a NATO summit. A videotape aired by al-Jazeera also showed the three Turks identifying themselves in Turkish.

    On Tuesday, a South Korean hostage Kim Soong Il, 33, was also beheaded by Zarqawi's group .

    In a tape also shown by the al-Jazeera channel, one of the kidnappers read a statement addressed to the Korean people, blaming the tragedy for the South Korean government's fault in sending army to Iraq.

    Last month, Zarqawi's group beheaded American hostage Nick Berg in Iraq. Enditem