U.S. Embassy In Lebanon Says It Has Missing U.S. Marine

8 July 2004 -- The U.S. State Department confirmed today that missing U.S. marine Wassef Ali Hassoun is safe and sound, in the custody of the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon.

The 24-year-old Marine of Lebanese descent went missing in Iraq last month. He was reported kidnapped and at one point beheaded by a militant group. But those reports were later denied.

It remains unclear under what circumstances Hassoun disappeared from his unit and how he ultimately ended up in Lebanon.

(AP/Reuters/dpa)