Iraqi militants threatened to kill Briton

A video posted on an Islamist website purportedly shows a British hostage in Iraq pleading for his life. Militants have threatened to kill Kenneth Bigley unless the US and UK release all Iraqi women held in the country's prisons.

The video appears to show Mr Bigley pleading to UK Prime Minister Tony Blair to save him.

Two US contractors &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/accidents/21/93/375/12754_Iraq.html' target=_blank>kidnapped with Mr Bigley last week in &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/war/2003/04/05/45654.html' target=_blank>Baghdad have already been killed. The UK says it has no Iraqi women in its custody, reports BBC News.

"To &to=http:// english.pravda.ru/letters/2003/02/21/43561.html' target=_blank>Mr. Blair, my name is Ken Bigley, from Liverpool," the blindfolded man said in the videotape. "I think this is possibly my last chance," the speaker said in the grainy video. "I don't want to die. I don't deserve."

"Please free female prisoners held in Iraqi prisons.", informs ABC News.

According to Reuters, a spokesman for Blair said: "We are doing everything we can to try to resolve this situation. At the same time, everybody acknowledges how difficult this situation is."

It was not clear if the move to release the video meant Bigley had been spared for at least another day.