Iraq govt defends Interior Ministry over kidnap

[ECH1969]

"The Ministry of Interior has set up a crisis group of senior officials and they are checking with all the police in that sector," said Dabbagh, the chief spokesman for Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, a Shi'ite Islamist who has struggled to clamp down on militias linked to his allies.

"The Ministry of Interior is taking every measure and moving towards some Baghdad areas where they suspect the hostages are being held," Dabbagh said, declining to say which areas.

Dhiab, a member of a Sunni Arab political party, said earlier some of those released had said they were driven to the Shi'ite militia stronghold of Sadr City in eastern Baghdad.

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/PAR453793.htm

[saigon68]

1. Just a little fun

Nothing to see--- "Move along".

[bluerum]

2. How can you possibly lose a caravan of 20 black SUV's ? nt

[yellowcanine]

3. Not to worry. Not 100 hostages, ONLY 50. Damn reporters exaggerating things again.

:sarcasm:


"We believe the number of hostages is 45 to 50, not exceeding 50," Dabbagh told Reuters, adding that 20 of those originally taken had later been released.

[antiimperialist]

4. Report of release said to be false

It is now being reported that the claim that 20 of those kidnapped were freed is false.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15710584/