Arrests in Hassan killing

2005-05-01 15:14

Baghdad - Iraqi forces arrested six people on Sunday during a raid that uncovered items belonging to British aid worker Margaret Hassan who was taken hostage last year and is believed to have been slain by her abductors.

"Police forces and commandos, assisted by US forces, carried out a raid in the Jaara area, south of Baghdad. They found small weapons, arrested six armed men and found a bag, documents and clothes belonging to Margaret Hassan," an interior ministry official told AFP.

Hassan, 59, head of Care International's Iraq operations, was seized in Baghdad on October 19 while on her way to work.

Al-Jazeera television said the following month it had received a video showing a man shooting a "blindfolded woman, who appears to be Margaret Hassan".

Although her body has never found, British officials say they believe she has been murdered.

"UK police advisors are at the scene investigating," a British diplomat said. "Clearly this is significant news".

Hassan, born in Dublin of British nationality, had lived in Iraq for over 30 years and was married to an Iraqi.

- AFP