Red Crescent closes Baghdad offices; 16 kidnap victims released

Red Crescent is the primary humanitarian relief organization in Iraq

BAGHDAD, Iraq: The Iraqi Red Crescent closed all of its Baghdad branches until further notice Monday, a day after gunmen staged a brazen mass kidnapping at the agency's downtown office.

Some 30 employees and visitors were kidnapped Sunday, and 16 of those were released unharmed the same day, a Red Crescent spokesman said Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity because of security concerns.

"We gave orders to our Baghdad staff to stop working till further notice. We renew our calls for the release of the kidnapped persons," said Mazin Abdellah, the Iraqi Red Crescent's secretary-general.

He added that the group's offices in other Iraqi provinces were fully operational Monday.

Police said the gunmen arrived at the Red Crescent office in five pickup trucks, but could not confirm the number of people kidnapped.

Read the rest at the International Herald Tribune

Related Link:
Dozens kidnapped at Baghdad Red Crescent office

Related Link:
Iraq aid agency alleges attacks by US