Paris, Aug 21 (IANS): Unesco director general Irina Bokova Thursday condemned the beheading of US journalist James Foley by extremist Islamist militants in Iraq, calling it a "heinous killing".

"I condemn the murder of James Foley in the strongest possible terms," said Bokova.

The Islamic State militant group had posted a video that showed Foley's beheading.

"There are few words to describe this heinous killing, turned into a cruel and gruesome spectacle through a video recording that has been widely circulated to intimidate media, governments and citizens everywhere and to inflict terrible pain on Foley's family, friends and colleagues," said Bokova.

The 40-year-old Foley had spent considerable time covering conflicts in the Middle East. He vanished Nov 22, 2012 while reporting on fighting in the city of Aleppo.

Bokova said journalists like Foley have kept "the world informed about the conflict in Syria and the terrible price being paid by the Syrian people and their country".

She hopes other captive journalists are freed unharmed.

"Several other journalists are still being held captive in Syria, including Steven Sotloff who was being held with Foley, and whose life has been threatened. I call on all concerned to release all reporters unharmed," she said.