Fresh hope has emerged for a US marine held hostage in Iraq after earlier reports he had been beheaded.
The Army of Ansar al-Sunna issued a statement on its website denying reports that it had the marine.
Earlier, it was reported that Lebanon's Foreign Ministry confirmed the death of Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun who was of Lebanese origin
The group holding him, is believed to have links with al-Qaeda and had threatened to behead him unless Iraqi prisoners were released from US custody.
The announcement of the death was posted on an Islamic website yesterday.
