Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DATE= 10/20/04

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=IRAQ / WRAP (L-O)

NUMBER=2-319794

BYLINE=GREG LAMOTTE

DATELINE=BAGHDAD

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

HEADLINE: No Word on Fate of Abducted Aid Worker

INTRO: The humanitarian aid agency CARE has temporarily suspended its operations in Iraq, following the abduction of the organization's chief of operations in the country. Also on Wednesday, the highest-ranking U.S. soldier charged in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal pleaded guilty. VOA's Greg LaMotte is in Baghdad with the details.

TEXT: More than 24 hours after she was abducted, there is still no word on who kidnapped CARE executive Margaret Hassan, and there have been no demands from the kidnappers.

Ms. Hassan, who holds dual British and Iraqi citizenship, was abducted Tuesday from her office in Baghdad. The aid worker, who is married to an Iraqi, has lived in the country for 30 years and is well known in the Middle East for her humanitarian work.

The spokeswoman for the U.S. office of Islamic Relief, Arif Shaikh (ah-REEF SHAKH), told VOA she is shocked such an abduction would occur during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, and she is appealing for Ms. Hassan's release

/// SHAIKH ACT ///

"It is really a shame that this would happen in this holy month. So, we really encourage the people to release her immediately. From what we know of Margaret she is an exceptional person who has devoted her life to humanitarian work."

/// END ACT ///

A woman who lives next-door to the CARE office in Baghdad, Shihan Abdel, says she has known Margaret Hassan for years, and everyone in the neighborhood is worried about her.

/// ABDEL ACT ///

"All the families feel sorry about her. She is so nice. Quiet. She is good personality and she loves all people. She has no relation with politics. Her husband is Iraqi. Her children are Iraqi. All the people working there they are Iraqi. She helps nearly all people."

/// END ACT ///

Ms. Abdel says she thinks the people who abducted Ms. Hassan did it for ransom money, not for political purposes. Experts say criminal gangs in Iraq sometimes sell their hostages to political groups, which have carried out the much-publicized executions of many of the captives. But all of the seven other women known to have been kidnapped have been set free.

/// BEGIN OPT ///

Meanwhile, two Egyptian men kidnapped in late September have been freed. Their employer says Abu Musab al-Zarqawi's terror group helped mediate their release.

Ms. Hassan's husband plans to speak publicly Thursday in Baghdad, if his wife is still in captivity.

/// END OPT ///

In the meantime, the highest-ranking American soldier charged in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal has pleaded guilty to five charges of abusing detainees.

Staff-sergeant Ivan Frederick pleaded guilty to conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault, and committing an indecent act.

Sentencing for the 38-year-old sergeant is expected Thursday. He could receive up to 11-years in prison. Private Jeremy Sivits pleaded guilty in May and is serving a one-year sentence.

Elsewhere, U.S. warplanes conducted two separate air strikes west of Baghdad in the rebellious city of Fallujah. The military says it destroyed safe houses and a command and control center believed to have been used by followers of wanted militant Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. As many as six people were killed in the air strikes. (SIGNED)

NEB/GL/AWP/RAE