Iraqi Red Crescent closes Baghdad office to protest kidnapping of its staff
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Baghdad, Dec 18, IRNA
Iraq-Red Crescent
The Iraqi Red Crescent shut its Baghdad operations Monday, a day after gunmen seized 30 of its workers and volunteers.
Sixteen guards, drivers and other workers, along with two visitors and three guards from the neighboring Dutch Embassy, were released after several hours in captivity, a Red Crescent spokesman said.
"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 Abdellaha, the Iraqi Red Crescent's secretary-general.
Red Crescent workers held a peaceful demonstration outside their Baghdad office to demand the release of the remaining captives.
The Iraqi Defense Ministry said those responsible for the Red Crescent kidnapping were likely the same groups responsible for similar attacks in recent months.
"They aim at paralyzing life and stopping government and social life," spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said.
"Targeting the Red Crescent is a horrible act." Many international aid organizations closed down their operations in Iraq as the security situation deteriorated after the U.S.-led invasion that ousted Saddam Hussein.
In the meantime, the U.S. military announced the deaths of two more American troops, raising to 59 the number of American military personnel killed in December.
A Marine assigned to Regimental Combat Team 5 died Saturday, and a soldier with the U.S. Army's 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division died Friday, the military said.
At least 2,947 members of the U.S. military have died since the US-led invasion in March 2003.
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