The holy warriors have slaughtered yet another helpless, bound hostage in the name of Allah: Web Site: 2nd U.S. Hostage Killed in Iraq.

The new posting followed the passing of the militants’ 24-hour deadline for the release of all Iraqi women from U.S. custody, and after anguished relatives in the United States and Britain begged for the lives of Bigley, 62, and Hensley, who would have marked his 49th birthday Wednesday.

“The nation’s zealous sons slaughtered the second American hostage after the end of the deadline,” the statement said. It was signed with the pseudonym Abu Maysara al-Iraqi, the name usually used on statements from al-Zarqawi’s group. The brief statement did not give the name of the hostage killed. It promised video proof soon.

Tawhid and Jihad — Arabic for “Monotheism and Holy War” — has claimed responsibility for killing at least seven hostages, including another American, Nicholas Berg, who was abducted in April. The group has also said it is behind a number of bombings and gun attacks.

United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan took this opportunity to bash the United States.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan condemned the taking and killing of hostages in Iraq. But he also said Iraqi prisoners had been disgracefully abused, an implicit criticism of the U.S. treatment of detainees at Abu Ghraib.

“No one is above the law,” Annan said. “Again and again, we see fundamental laws shamelessly disregarded — those that ordain respect for innocent life, for civilians, for the vulnerable — especially children.”