A video that aired today supposedly showed the beheading of a U.S. hostage in Iraq but it turned outto be a hoax.

Benjamin Vanderford, 22, a resident of San Francisco, contacted by the Associated Press in San Fransisco, said he videotaped the fake beheading at a friend's house months ago.

Benjamin Vanderford said he made the video to attract attention for a political campaign.

On the video a fake Hostage urged U.S. forces to withdraw from Iraq. After that, a knife was shown cutting through the neck of a limp body. The film showed no militants.

The video was said to have been made by militants linked to top al-Qaeda suspect Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.