Al-Qaida says it killed British hostage

LONDON, June 3 (UPI) -- The North African arm of al-Qaida claimed Wednesday it executed British hostage Edwin Dyer, blaming the British government for the man's death.

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown called al-Qaida's actions "barbaric," saying it "reinforces our commitment to confront terrorism," The Times of London reported.

Brown said the London government had "strong reason to believe" that the terrorist cell carried out its threat to kill Dyer, kidnapped more than five months ago in Mali after a music festival.

"I want those who would use terror against British citizens to know beyond doubt that we and our allies will pursue them relentlessly, and that they will meet the justice they deserve," Brown said in a statement.

In a statement posted on a known jihadist Web site, al-Qaida in Islamic Maghreb said it had "killed Dyer on May 31, finding that Britain is unresponsive and does not seem to care for its citizens."

The terrorist group accused Britain of not responding to its demands to release extremist cleric Abu Qatada from a maximum-security cell, The Times said. Qatada, named by Spanish judges as Osama bin Laden's top aide in Europe, is being held in isolation at Long Lartin prison while fighting deportation to Jordan.

"This tragedy reinforces our commitment to confront terrorism," Brown said. "It strengthens our determination never to concede to the demands of terrorists, nor to pay ransoms."

Dyer is believed to be one of a group of European tourists kidnapped in January on the border between Mali and Niger after attending the African music "Festival in the Desert" near Timbuktu, The Times said.