Iraq government in crisis as staff abducted, tortured

[ProSense]

Iraq government in crisis as staff abducted, tortured

by Jay Deshmukh
1 hour, 41 minutes ago

BAGHDAD (AFP) - Kidnappers tortured many of the dozens of hostages seized from a government building and killed some of them, a minister said, warning that Iraq no longer had an effective government.

Higher Education Minister Abed Dhiab al-Ujaili, a Sunni Arab member of the Shiite-led unity government, said some 75 hostages -- 40 of them his ministry's staff -- were in captivity after the raid by militiamen wearing police-style uniforms.

"Those who were set free told us that a few of the hostages have been killed, while most of them were tortured," he told AFP. "I'm very much concerned about their welfare," he said of the remaining hostages.

Ujaili's comments came as the sectarian violence in the capital showed no let-up.

Gunmen stormed a bakery in the mixed Zayuniyah neighbourhood and killed nine Shiite workers in the latest attack by Sunni insurgents on a trade that has traditionally been carried out by the majority community.

Fifteen other civilians were killed in Iraq, including 10 in shootings in Baquba, north of the capital.

more...

[bemildred]

1. Iraqi government is toast. That's the deal.

It may take a little while yet, but it's over.

[ProSense]

2. Civilian convoy hijacked in Iraq

Civilian convoy hijacked in Iraq

11 minutes ago

WASHINGTON - A convoy of civilians traveling near Nasiriyah, in southern
Iraq, was hijacked Thursday, according to the Pentagon.


Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said that preliminary reports suggested there could be as many as 14 people captured and that the convoy included about 19 vehicles.

He said he had no new details on the attack, adding that British forces were working with Iraqis to determine what happened. He would not say whether U.S. forces were involved.

Italy formally handed over security responsibility of the southern Dhi Qar Province to Iraqi forces in late September, and British troops handed over control of the adjacent southern Muthana province in July.

Nasiriyah is the provincial capital of Dhi Qar.

[ProSense]

3. (Four) Americans among contractors abducted in Iraq

Americans among contractors abducted in Iraq

POSTED: 7:47 p.m. EST, November 16, 2006

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Fourteen security contractors, including four Americans, were abducted Thursday when a supply convoy was ambushed in southern Iraq, a U.S. military spokesman told CNN.

Coalition troops were searching for the victims after the incident in Nasiriya, the spokesman said. He provided no other details.

A military spokesman in Baghdad confirmed the abductions occurred at a checkpoint.

ABC News, citing U.S. defense officials, reported that up to 14 people working for Crescent Security Group were kidnapped.

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[Doctor_J]

4. Can we call it chaos yet? How about civil war?

When are the Dems going to start pounding Smirk for wanting to send more soldiers into the quagmire?