International   

Kidnap scene remains hazy

Atul Aneja

Some hostages were tortured, says Minister

DUBAI: Adding momentum to the violence in Iraq, gunmen have killed nine persons and wounded several after attacking a bakery in Baghdad.

Shias run most of the bakeries in Baghdad and Sunnis have frequently targeted them, as part of surging sectarian clashes. The attack follows the mass kidnappings of academicians, staff members and visitors to a research facility attached to the Ministry of Higher Education. The Ministry and the office of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki continue to cite divergent versions of the incident.

According to the Prime Minister's office, only 40 persons were kidnapped and all but five have been released. But Abd Dhiab, Higher Education Minister, said 150 persons had been abducted and 70 to 80 were being still held captive. The AFP news agency quoted him as saying, "Those who were set free told us that a few of the hostages have been killed, while most of them were tortured."

The U.S. military has announced that around 1,000 soldiers backed by air and artillery support had launched an operation against guerillas near Kirkuk in northern Iraq. It also said four of its soldiers had been killed in fighting, raising the number of American war dead in Iraq to 2,862. Of these, 44 servicemen have been killed in November alone.

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

Stories in this Section

U.S. plans last big push in Iraq
Peace treaty signing deferred in Nepal
Bush warns North Korea
Kidnap scene remains hazy
Pleads guilty to rape, murder
Milton Friedman dead
Racist attack in U.K.
Possible plea bargain
Pop star over politics
Mice as food tasters
Opportunity to build strategic partnership with India: Lugar
Deal in mutual interest: Kerry
Joint mechanism is no mean achievement, says Kasuri

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