Militants claim Turkish captives killed

BAGHDAD, Iraq – A Paris newspaper editor said there had been positive movement in the effort to free two French journalists Thursday, while a separate militant group in Iraq said it had killed three Turkish captives.

The kidnappers in Iraq have handed over the pair to an Iraqi Sunni Muslim opposition group, Jean de Belot, managing editor of Le Figaro newspaper, said on France-Info radio.

Al-Jazeera reported that it had received a video from a militant group in Iraq linked to al Qaeda showing the slaying of three Turkish hostages.

The station said it had a statement claiming responsibility from Tawhid and Jihad, a group linked to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, a Jordanian militant.