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13 civilians kidnapped in Iraq
30/12/2007 20:25 - (SA)
Kirkuk - Suspected al-Qaeda gunmen set up a fake checkpoint south of the Iraqi oil city of Kirkuk and kidnapped 13 civilians early on Sunday, police said.
The incident occurred between the towns of Sulaiman Beg and Tuz Khurmatu, local police officer Hewa Ghafour told AFP.
"The gunmen are suspected to be from al-Qaeda. They set up a fake checkpoint between these two towns and stopped three cars," he said.
"The gunmen then forced the 13 passengers out of the cars and kidnapped them," he said, adding that police had launched a search for the hostages.
In recent months, al-Qaeda groups have stepped up attacks in northern Iraq after fleeing central and western regions where US and Iraqi commanders say massive military assaults have destroyed many of their hideouts.
- AFP
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