BAGHDAD, Nov. 14 (Xinhuanet) -- A militant group has freed two female relatives of interim Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi but is still holding his cousin hostage, pan-Arab al-Jazeera satellite TV reported Sunday.

    Citing unidentified sources, the channel gave no further details.

    A group known to be Ansar al-Jihad (Partisans of Holy War)claimed on Tuesday responsibility for abducting the three people and threatened to behead them if Allawi fails to liberate all prisoners in Iraq and stop bombardment in Fallujah within 48 hours.Enditem