Al-Qaeda threatens to execute British-American journalist hostage Luke Somers 

A video of al-Qaeda in Yemen threatening to execute a British-American journalist within three days was released yesterday.

Dual British-US citizen Luke Somers was kidnapped from Sanaa, capital of Yemen, on 17 September last year and he appears in the last seconds of a three-minute video featuring a speech by Sheikh Nasser al-Ansi, the leader of al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP).

Al-Ansi made a statement lasting more than two minutes directed towards the US government, which demands an end to drone strikes and troops.

Mr Somers, 33, then makes an appearance wearing a purple shirt, glasses and has a shaven head before saying: “I’m looking for any help that can get me out of this situation. I’m certain that my life is in danger."

He adds: “So as I sit here now, I ask if anything can be done, please let it be done. Thank you very much.”

Mr Somers was born in Britain but spent most of his life living in the US before working for almost two years in Yemen as a freelance photojournalist, interpreter and copy editor for English-language newspapers.

Al-Ansi said he would give the US government three days to satisfy their demands "otherwise the American hostage held by us will meet his inevitable fate."

The kidnapping and video release of a foreign hostage is the first in Yemen and follows the beheadings of two other American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by Isis militants.

Credit: The Independent