Al-Qaida publishes ID of Algerian diplomat, his government withdraws team

In developments concerning the implications of the kidnapping of Algeria's charge de affairs in Iraq and another one of its diplomats, al-Qaida organization in Iraq issued on the Internet showing identity papers, said to be for Ali Bal'arousi, at a time Algeria announced it had withdrawn the remaining members of its diplomatic team from Baghdad.

Among the papers shown was a membership card in the Iraqi club for hunting carrying al-Bal'arousi name in addition to copies for his personal IDs.

On Saturday the organization claimed responsibility for Bal'arousi kidnapping, noting not the fate of the other Algerian diplomat Ezz Eddine BalQadi who was kidnapped with him.

On the other hand, an official in the Algerian government announced that Algeria withdrew its remaining diplomats from Baghdad after the kidnapping of two of them last week. The minister designate for African affairs Abul Qader Musihil told journalists that the other diplomats left Baghdad with the family of the kidnapped diplomat Ali Bal'arousi.

A high ranking official at the Iraqi ministry of interior said on Monday that two suspected persons in the kidnapping of the two Algerian diplomats were detained and are being interrogated.