An Al-Qaida-led group demanded yesterday that the US military end its massive search for three missing American soldiers the Islamist group claims to be holding as this was the only way to secure their safety.

"Your soldiers are in our grip. If you want the safety of your soldiers then do not search for them," the Islamic State in Iraq said in a statement posted on a website.

The group, which has claimed responsibility for an ambush on a US patrol south of Baghdad on Saturday that killed four US soldiers and one Iraqi army translator, did not elaborate but its statement implied the soldiers were still alive.

"You have suffered a setback today because you have described the US soldier through your propaganda as invincible... with grace from God the Almighty the US soldier has been humiliated at the hands of faithful (Muslims)," the statement said.

"By searching for your soldiers you are only tiring yourself," it said, adding that the aggressive search showed that the US military would prefer "the whole army dead rather than having one crusader detained".

Thousands of US and Iraqi troops backed by helicopters and jets combed through lush palm groves, searched cars and went door-to-door looking for any signs of the missing soldiers in an area known as the "Triangle of Death".

Earlier, the US military said the attack bore the hallmarks of Al-Qaida but was unable to confirm if the soldiers were being held by the group. The group has given no proof it is holding the soldiers.

"They lie. We know they lie on their Jihadist websites. But that said, we have seen these attacks and tactics by Al-Qaida before," Lieutenant-Colonel Christopher Garver said, saying the attack had "Al-Qaida-esque elements".

The ambush is one of the worst strikes by the Sunni Arab militant group against US forces since the invasion in 2003.

Source: China Daily/agencies