Four Egyptian engineers kidnapped in Baghdad
Iraq, Local, 2/7/2005

A spokesman for "Iraqana" ( our Iraq) company for telecommunications said that four Egyptian engineers from Orascom company were kidnapped on Sunday by unidentified gunmen.

The spokesman said that the four Egyptians who install transmission towers to enhance the capacity of the mobile network around Baghdad, were kidnapped after gunmen stopped their car while they were heading for their work to the west of the capital Baghdad. The side behind this operation was not identified.

In another development, the Muslim Scholars Commission in Iraq condemned the kidnapping of the Italian journalist Juliana Sagrina. Sheikh Abdul Salam al-Kubeisi said that the threats to kill the journalist within 24 hoys if Italy will not withdraw its forces adding "we punish persons who sympathize with the Iraqi people.. If it is the resistance which kidnapped her this is a mistake." For his part, the Italian foreign minister said that his country's government is making all efforts to free the kidnapped journalist and the Italian foreign ministry is seeking the help of an Arab Gulf state to release Sagrina.

A second Islamic group yesterday announced the kidnapping of Sagrina and threatened to kill her today ( Monday). This was after another group announced responsibility for her kidnapping.

A statement which has not authenticated yet, bearing the signature "of al-Jihad organization in Mesopotamia" said it will kill Segrina if Italy will not withdraw its forces from Iraq. A matter which Rome rejected earlier.

Meantime, one marine soldier was killed on Sunday in armed confrontation in what is called the "triangle of death" to the south of Baghdad, thereby the number of American soldiers killed in Iraq during the past 24 hours increased to 5 after the American forces announced the killing of four of its soldiers in two separate attacks that took place near Beji to the north of Baghdad after the American forces announced the killing of four of its soldiers in two separate attacks that took place near Beji to the north of Baghdad.

In Basra, one officer in the Iraqi police announced that one civilian was injured in a mortar explosion. This incident came after a bloody day in Iraq witnessed the killing of 17 persons most of them members in the Iraqi national guards and the police in a series of attacks and blowing up operations.

Previous Stories:
  Italian journalist holders want Italy out of Iraq   (2/5/2005)
  Four Iraqi prisoners killed, U.S. on the downing of British plane   (2/1/2005)
  American hostage in Iraq appeals for release; Chinese released   (1/26/2005)
  Four Egyptian back home from Iraq after hostage   (9/30/2004)

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