A militant group in Iraq says it has beheaded a kidnapped U.S. Marine of Lebanese origin.
The Ansar-al-Sunna group said Saturday it killed Wassef Ali Hassoun, who was recently shown on television blindfolded with a sword over his head. The killing has not been confirmed.
Meanwhile, insurgents killed seven Iraqi National Guard soldiers in an attack on a checkpoint south of Baghdad.
In the capital, U.S. troops found what was described as a car bomb "factory" where four vehicles were being equipped to deliver explosives, and took more than 50 people into custody.
And British troops are investigating a rupture in a southern oil pipeline, but it is unclear if it was an act of sabotage.
Information for this report is provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.