American, five others kidnapped in Iraq

By MARIAM FAM
The Associated Press

E-mail this article Print this article Search archive Most read articles Most e-mailed articles

Related stories Americans seized in Iraq U.S. enlists insurgency hotline Iraqi leader opposes offensive on Fallujah

Two of the Iraqis were later released, police said today.

The American, who was not identified, was the 12th U.S. citizen to be reported kidnapped or missing in Iraq. He was grabbed about 500 yards from the house where two Americans and a Briton were kidnapped last month. All three were beheaded.

The dramatic abduction occurred two days after the decapitated body of Japanese backpacker Shosei Koda was found in western Baghdad. The al-Qaida-affiliated movement of Jordanian militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi claimed responsibility for that kidnapping.

Police Lt. Col. Maan Khalaf said the heavily armed kidnappers arrived in three cars around iftar, the traditional sunset meal that Muslims eat to break their daily fast during the holy month of Ramadan.

The kidnappers stormed the two-story house and forced the victims to leave with them. "We heard gunfire. I went outside to see what's going on when a man pointed a machine gun at me and said: 'Get in or else I'll shoot at you,' " said Haidar Karar, who lives nearby. From his house, Karar saw "at least 20 attackers."

The kidnappers allowed two of four Iraqi guards kidnapped to go free and left them in Baghdad's Hay al-Amil area late Monday, a police officer involved with the investigation said.

The two were beaten up and blindfolded, he said.

More than 160 foreigners have been abducted this year by militants, or by criminals seeking ransom. At least 33 captives have been killed.

By comparison, more than 152 Iraqis were kidnapped in October alone.

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company

E-mail this article

Print this article

Search archive

More nation & world headlines...