11 Iraqi soldiers 'kidnapped'
2004-10-26 20:52
Dubai - Al-Qaeda-linked militants have allegedly kidnapped 11 Iraqi national guardsmen on a motorway south of Baghdad, said a statement posted on an Islamist website on Tuesday.
There was no immediate confirmation of the authenticity of the claim by the so-called Jeish Ansar al-Sunna faction, which described itself as an amalgam of several Islamist jihadist (holy war) cells.
"The mujahedeen... ambushed a patrol of militiamen linked to the occupation forces, the national guard (Legion Security Force), which was patrolling on the Baghdad to Hilla motorway," said the statement. "The mujahedeen ... pounced on them and succeeded in capturing 11 of the miscreants," it added, publishing the names of the "hostages" alongside their photographs - some uniformed and others wearing T-shirts marked "LSF".
No date was given for the alleged kidnapping, but the caption on the photographs was dated October 21.
The group also said there was a video showing the soldiers, but it was blocked by the Internet server.
Filmed killings of foreign and Iraqi hostages murdered for "collaborating" with US forces in Iraq have previously posted by the same group on its website.
- AFP