This image posted on an Islamic website on June 15, 2004 shows a blindfolded US hostage being held in Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, al Qaeda said it was holding Paul Johnson, a US engineer and the first Westerner to be kidnapped in a wave of militant attacks in the kingdom that began more than a year ago. The website said they would kill Johnson if the Saudi government failed to free jailed militants within 72 hours. (Reuters photo)

This image posted on an Islamic website on June 15, 2004 shows a blindfolded US hostage being held in Saudi Arabia. On Saturday, al Qaeda said it was holding Paul Johnson, a US engineer and the first Westerner to be kidnapped in a wave of militant attacks in the kingdom that began more than a year ago. The website said they would kill Johnson if the Saudi government failed to free jailed militants within 72 hours. (Reuters photo)