Iraqi Prime Minister's Family Held Hostage

[Comic_Peddler]

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- At least two members of Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family have been kidnapped at gunpoint from their home in Baghdad, amid conflicting reports from government officials and sources close to the family.

A group called Ansar al-Jihad has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping on a Web site.

The group demanded the release of all Iraqi prisoners and an end to the attacks on Falluja within 48 hours. It said the hostages would be beheaded if its demands were not met.

Ansar al-Jihad has made several claims for attacks before, but this is its first claim for kidnapping.

The Web site, previously used to post claims from the group, claimed there were three hostages. An Allawi adviser and a source close to the family also said three family members were abducted.

But Allawi's office Wednesday said it was aware of the abduction of two family members -- Allawi's cousin, Ghazy Allawi, 75, and his cousin's daughter-in-law.

They went missing after a group of gunmen raided the home, said Allawi adviser George Sada. Authorities have not received any demands for their release.

Ghazi Allawi's bodyguards informed Allawi of the kidnapping, Sada said. It was not clear if the house was secured at the time of the kidnapping Tuesday.

Allawi spokesman Thair Naqib said the kidnapping was "another terrorist attack but it will not defeat the government's battle against terrorism and efforts to bring security and stability to Iraq."

Hundreds of Iraqis have been kidnapped by criminal gangs in a wave of abductions in recent months, with more wealthy individuals such as doctors and businessmen most regularly targeted. Most are released after the payment of ransom.

Over the same period, scores of foreigners have been seized, with many of them handed over to Islamic militant groups who have threatened to kill them if demands are not met.

More than 35 foreign hostages have been killed, according to The Associated Press, several by beheading.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/...nap/index.html

[j2k4]

You forgot to include "...owing completely to his status as a dupe of the West..."

[cpt_azad]

if that's sarcasm j2, i don't find it funny. if it's not then yes, agreed. he's a puppet, everyone knows that. he does not care for his people, he only cares about America's interests.

[j2k4]

if that's sarcasm j2, i don't find it funny. if it's not then yes, agreed. he's a puppet, everyone knows that. he does not care for his people, he only cares about America's interests.

Then, according to your logic, it would be sarcasm, I think.

I will defer, if you prefer; I mean, the man only suffered an attack by Saddam's axe-wielding henchmen-knowing now that this also happened, not as a consequence of his opposition to Saddam, but his capacity as the living vessel of U.S. intent, shames me.