2 Iraqi employees of U.S. embassy believed kidnapped

[Barrett808]

Source: Associated Press

BAGHDAD (AP) - The US has confirmed that two Iraqi employees of the American Embassy in Baghdad are believed to have been kidnapped.

A State Department spokesman could not say when the pair went missing, and has not been able to confirm reports that they are a married couple who have been killed by insurgents.

The kidnapping claim comes on the same day US and Iraqi troops raided parts of Sadr City looking for five abducted British citizens.

Meanwhile, authorities say at least eleven people were killed today in two separate incidents. Police say at least nine civilians died after several mortar rounds landed on a courthouse instead of on a US military base that was targeted in Fallujah.

Read more: http://www.kold.com/Global/story.asp?S=6588029

[maddezmom]

1. Two Iraqis who work at U.S. Baghdad embassy missing

Two Iraqis who work at U.S. Baghdad embassy missing
31 May 2007 16:37:12 GMT
Source: Reuters
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Background
Iraq in turmoil
More WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - Two Iraqis who work for the U.S. embassy in Baghdad are missing and U.S. and Iraqi forces are trying to find out what happened to them, the U.S. State Department said on Thursday.

"There are two local national employees of the embassy in Baghdad who are missing. Their whereabouts, at this point, are unknown," State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters in Washington.

"Embassy officials as well as folks in the Iraqi security forces and MNFI are trying to determine exactly what's happened to them," Casey added, referring to the U.S.-led Multi-National Force - Iraq.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N31216887.htm

[sabra]

2. k & r

:kick:

[Massachusetts]

3. But

Joe The Fraud Lieberman says things are getting better.

[Barrett808]

4. Reuters: Iraq Qaeda group says killed US embassy couple

WASHINGTON/DUBAI, May 31 (Reuters) - An al Qaeda-led group said on Thursday it had killed an Iraqi husband and wife employed by the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Earlier, U.S. officials said the couple appeared to have been kidnapped.

The U.S. officials, who asked not to be named because of the sensitivity of the case, said that after the husband went missing late last week his wife went to look for him and then she too appeared to have been abducted.

"God's ruling has been implemented against two of the most prominent agents and spies of the worshippers of the cross ... a man and woman who occupy an important position at the U.S. embassy..." the self-styled Islamic State in Iraq said in a statement published on the Internet.

"The swords of the security personnel of the Islamic State in Iraq ... are with God's grace slitting the throats of crusaders and their aides and lackeys," it said.

(more)

http://mobile.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N31226098.htm