At least 15 hostages released from Baghdad mass kidnapping

Source: Xinhuanet | 11-15-2006 08:22

At least 15 hostages released from Baghdad mass kidnapping

BAGHDAD, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- At least 15 hostages were releasedlate Tuesday from an earlier kidnapping in the Higher Education Ministry in Baghdad, local security and education sources said.

A security source told media that 12 more hostages were found released in different parts of Karradah district in the Iraqi capital, after three other hostages were freed earlier by their kidnappers.

Dr Alaa Makki, a lawmaker in the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education, meanwhile, confirmed the release of a number of the ministry's staffers.

The kidnapped belonged to the Sunni and Shiite sects, "so the abduction meant that all Iraqi people are targeted", he added.

According to the released, there were only some 40 people had been held hostages by unidentified gunmen.

However, the state-run television reported earlier in the day that gunmen wearing Iraqi police commando uniform stormed the ministry's Research Directorate building in the Nidhal Street in Karradah district, kidnapping more than 100 male employees.

Editor:Wang Ping