Hostage deadline 'extended'

Kidnappers holding Auckland resident Harmeet Singh Sooden and three other hostages in Iraq have extended their deadline by two days, al-Jazeera has said.

The Associated Press news agency reported the Gulf-based TV station as saying the original Thursday deadline had been extended.

Militant group the Swords of Righteousness has said it will execute Mr Sooden, a Canadian citizen, and the other three men - another Canadian, a Briton and an American - if the US and UK governments do not release all prisoners in Iraq.

- HERALD ONLINE STAFF