May 11 (Bloomberg) -- The beheading of a U.S. civilian in Iraq was shown in a video posted on an Islamic Web site, which said the man was killed by an al-Qaeda-affiliated group in response to the abuse of Iraqi prisoners by U.S. soldiers, the Associated Press reported.

The American, who was bound and wearing an orange jump suit, identified himself on the video as Nick Berg from Philadelphia, a U.S. contractor whose body was found on a highway overpass in Baghdad Saturday, AP said.

Five men wearing headscarves and black ski masks stood over him and put a large knife to his neck. A scream sounded as they cut his head off, shouting ``Allahu Akbar,'' or ``God is great,'' and then they held the head before the camera, AP reported.

The news service said the Web site on which the video was posted is known as a clearing house for al-Qaeda and extremist Islamic group statements, and the video bore the title ``Abu Musab al-Zarqawi shown slaughtering an American,'' AP said. The U.S. says Jordanian Zarqawi, believed to be operating in Iraq, is affiliated with the terrorist group al-Qaeda. He is wanted in connection with the murder of a U.S. aid official in Jordan.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ann Hughey in Washington at ahughey@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: May 11, 2004 14:44 EDT