Jordan executes jihadists after IS murder of pilot

AMMAN, Feb 4 (agencies): Jordan has executed two convicts, including a female jihadist, following the killing of one of its air force pilots by Islamic State (IS) militants.

The woman, failed suicide bomber Sajida al-Rishawi, and al-Qaeda operative Ziyad Karboli - both Iraqi nationals - were hanged at dawn, officials said.

The executions came hours after IS posted a video appearing to show pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh being burned alive.  He was seized after crashing during an anti-IS mission over Syria in December. Jordan had attempted to secure Lt Kasasbeh's release in a swap involving Rishawi, but IS is believed to have killed him a month ago.

Jordan had promised to begin executing Islamic extremists on death row in response to the murder of Maaz al-Kassasbeh, who was captured by IS when his plane went down in Syria in December.

Jordan's King Abdullah II cut short a visit to Washington after a gruesome video of the airman's killing emerged, describing Kassasbeh as a hero and vowing to take the battle to IS.

Egypt-based Al-Azhar, Sunni Islam's most prestigious seat of learning, called for the "killing, crucifixion or chopping of the limbs" of IS militants, expressing outrage over their "cowardly act".

Rishawi, 44, was sentenced to death for her participation in triple hotel bombings in Amman in 2005 that killed 60 people.

IS had offered to spare Kassasbeh's life and free Japanese journalist Kenji Goto-who was later beheaded-if she were released.

Jordan had on Tuesday vowed to avenge the killing of Kassasbeh, hours after the harrowing video emerged online purporting to show the caged 26-year-old F-16 fighter pilot engulfed in flames.

The video-the most brutal yet in a series of recorded killings of hostages by IS-prompted global revulsion and vows of unwavering international efforts to combat the Sunni Muslim extremist group.

The killing sparked outrage in Jordan and demonstrations in Amman and the city of Karak, the home of Kassasbeh's influential tribe.

The executions came just weeks after Jordan ended an eight-year moratorium on the death penalty, drawing criticism from human rights groups.

Rishawi was closely linked to IS's predecessor organisation in Iraq and seen as an important symbol for the jihadists.

Karboli was sentenced to death in 2007 on terrorism charges, including the killing of a Jordanian in Iraq.

Jordan, a crucial ally of Washington in the Middle East, is one of several Arab countries that have joined a US-led coalition carrying out air strikes against IS in Syria and Iraq.

The New York Times, quoting US officials, reported Wednesday that the United Arab Emirates had suspended its participation in December after Kassasbeh's capture due to fears for the safety of its pilots.

Jordan promised to avenge the pilot's murder, with government spokesman Mohammad al-Momani saying: "Jordan's response will be earth-shattering."

US President Barack Obama, who hosted King Abdullah in a hastily organised Oval Office meeting, led international condemnation of the murder, decrying the "cowardice and depravity" of IS.