Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Al-Qaida Group Claims Responsibility for Abduction of Algerian
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Diplomat
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=E4EE19:3919ACA

Statement posted on Islamist Internet site says group targeted chief
of Algerian mission in Baghdad as part of campaign to drive out
diplomats from other Muslim nations Al-Qaida loyalists in Iraq say
they kidnapped Algeria's top diplomat in Baghdad.

In a statement posted Saturday on an Islamist Internet site, the group
al-Qaida in Iraq said it targeted the chief of the Algerian mission in
Baghdad as part of a campaign to drive out diplomats from other Muslim
nations.

Al-Qaida in Iraq, which is headed by the country's notorious fugitive
Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, compared the Algerian envoy's abduction this
week to the kidnapping and murder earlier this month of Egypt's
ambassador to Iraq.







Ali Belaroussi The Algerian mission chief, Ali Belaroussi, and another
member of Algeria's diplomatic staff in Iraq were snatched by gunmen
on Thursday. Saturday's statement did not mention the second man.

Attacks by insurgents in Iraq have driven many diplomats from Baghdad,
undermining the U.S.-backed government's efforts to gain support among
Arab countries.

Some information for this report provided by AFP and Reuters.


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