International   

National crisis: Iraq

Abductions could deepen sectarian tensions

DUBAI: Iraqi gunmen wearing military-style uniforms have kidnapped more than 100 persons from a research facility in the Ministry of Higher Education in Baghdad.

A spokeswoman of the Ministry said armed men arrived in pick-up trucks and stormed the research directorate.

They separated the women from the men, who were, handcuffed and taken away in the pick-up vehicles. Militants have targeted academicians, who, fearing for their safety, have been fleeing to neighbouring countries.

The news of the kidnapping, which took place at around 9.30 a.m. local time caused an interruption in the on-going Parliament session. Alaa Makki, head of the parliamentary education committee, urged the Prime Minister, the Defence Minister and the Interior Minister to respond urgently to what he described was a "national catastrophe."

The abductions could deepen sectarian tensions, despite Mr. Makki's assertion that the victims of the kidnappings were both Sunnis and Shias. However, Reuters news agency quoted an eyewitness as saying the kidnappers abducted only Sunnis after separating them from Shias, following identity card checks at a parking lot.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

National crisis: Iraq
Blair advocates role for Iran, Syria
Sri Lankan President Rajapaksa objects to U.N. envoy's charge
Women's bill: pressure on Musharraf
Setback to Musharraf
Memorial for Martin Luther King
Meet on married priests
Panda baby boom
"Manmohan should intervene"

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu