JURIST - Paper Chase: Militants behead American hostage in Iraq after deadline to free Muslim women prisoners expires

Members of the Abu Musab al-Zarqawi insurgent group in Iraq have beheaded a second American in as many days according to a report on an Islamist website. US officials have informed the family of Jack Hensley about the reports but the government is unable to confirm if he was killed. The beheading came a day after the kidnappers gave the US an additional 24-hours - beyond an original 48 - to release all Muslim women being held in US-controlled prisons in Iraq. US officials continue to maintain they are not holding any Iraqi women in the two prisons identified by the kidnappers.

However, two female "high-value detainees" who were former members of Saddam Hussein's regime are being held at a secret high-security camp. The two, Huda Salih Mahdi Ammash ("Mrs. Anthrax") and Dr. Rihab Rashid Taha ("Dr. Germ") are accused of working on Saddam Hussein's weapons programs. CNN has more.

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