Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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Gunmen in Military Uniforms Carry Out Mass Kidnapping in Baghdad
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?r=279&c=745284&l=1009&ctl=15527F0:A6F02AD83191E16002903C16C2BB7AA69574F7DCC14957C0 Police say the
daylight kidnapping raid targeted merchants in a commercial area of
the city





Baghdad province security personnel and Iraqi army soldiers rush to
the area where a gunfight erupted in central Baghdad, 14 Dec 2006Iraqi
police say gunmen wearing military uniforms have kidnapped at least 30
people during a raid in central Baghdad.

Police say the daylight kidnapping raid targeted merchants in a
commercial area of the city. Gunmen driving several vehicles rounded
up the victims at gunpoint before driving off.

On Wednesday, bombings and shootings across Iraq killed at least 34
people. The attacks included bombings that targeted Shi'ites in
Baghdad and suicide car bombers who attacked an Iraqi army base
outside Kirkuk.

The U.S. military urged Iraqi political leaders to increase efforts to
stem the bloodshed. U.S. military spokesman Major General William
Caldwell warned that the upsurge in violence will continue unless
Iraqi political leaders make a greater effort to overcome their
differences.

Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters


.