TIKRIT, Iraq, Aug 31 (AFP) - A radical Iraqi insurgent group claimed Tuesday that it had killed three "Mossad agents" in Iraq and holding another hostage along with a Turkish truck driver accused of working for US-led forces.

The claim was included in a statement plastered on walls in Saddam Hussein's hometown of Tikrit and signed by the "Horror Brigades", a previously unknown division of the Secret Islamic Army which is holding three Indians, three Kenyans and an Egyptian.

"A group from our brigade killed three infidel Zionist Mossad agents after kidnapping them and burning their car yesterday (Monday) on the road between Tikrit and Mosul," the statement read.

"We are still holding a fourth Zionist as evidence to condemn the United States of infidels and their dirty plot to destroy Islam and Iraq through Zionist methods," it said.

Such claims by extremist Iraq-based groups have generally been posted on Islamist websites and it was difficult to verify the authenticity of the claim.

"The criminal (hostage) confessed that they came to Iraq after reaching a deal with the infidel occupiers in order to train US forces in guerrilla warfare, under the cover of working for a private security company," the statement said.

"He also confirmed that, along with 100 others, he had interrogated detainees inside infidel US prisons, even women, in collaboration with US intelligence."

The statement mentioned no ransom. "This is not the time for negotiation. He is on a journey to meet his death," it said.

The statement also said the group had abducted a Turkish truck driver in the area.

"Our brigade has abducted a Turkish truck driver and we had previously warned the Turkish company not to send any of its drivers working for the coalition of the infidels and we will behead the Turk as evidence of our commitment to what we have promised to God," it said.

"The criminal confessed he had carried about 40 loads of ammunition to the US forces in Balad military base" south of Tikrit, it added. "Our brigade will implement the order of God."

The other seven hostages already held by the group are all truck drivers and the Secret Islamic Army has called on the Kuwaiti company employing them to quit Iraq.

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