Members of Iyad Allawi's family kidnapped

[conjur]

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/...iraq.kidnap/index.html

BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- At least two members of Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad Allawi's family have been kidnapped at gunpoint from their home in Baghdad, amid conflicting reports from government officials and sources close to the family.

The prime minister's office Wednesday said it was aware of the abduction of two family members -- Allawi's cousin, Ghazi Allawi, 75, and his cousin's daughter-in-law.

An Allawi adviser and a source close to the family said three family members were abducted.

They went missing after a group of gunmen raided the home, said Allawi adviser George Sada. Authorities have not received any demands for their release.

Ghazi Allawi's bodyguards informed Allawi of the kidnapping, Sada said. It was not clear if the house was secured at the time of the kidnapping Tuesday.

Allawi spokesman Thair Naqib said the kidnapping "is another terrorist attack but it will not defeat the government's battle against terrorism and efforts to bring security and stability to Iraq."

Hundreds of Iraqis have been kidnapped by criminal gangs in a wave of abductions in recent months, with more wealthy individuals such as doctors and businessmen most regularly targeted. Most are released after the payment of ransom.

Over the same period, scores of foreigners have been seized, with many of them handed over to Islamic militant groups who have threatened to kill them if demands are not met.

More than 35 foreign hostages have been killed, according to The Associated Press, several by beheading.

Hope they are returned safe and sound.

 

[Alistar7]

I wish them the best of luck, but it does not look good for them. Allawi will have to show his strength as a leader, even though his power is fleeting at best......

 

[PatboyX]

whenever i hear news of someone getting kidnapped like this, i get dizzy attempting to contemplate how it must feel for the family. this is most certainly just a countdown to a horrible death.
terrible, terrible news. what a nightmare.

 

[kage69]

:shocked:



Whoa. I don't think these ones are coming back.

 

[Spencer278]

This is a major progaganda win for the people that oppose Allawi. It sends the message that Allawi can't protect them but the rebals can and there for they will get even more support with the people.

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: Spencer278
This is a major progaganda win for the people that oppose Allawi. It sends the message that Allawi can't protect them but the rebals can and there for they will get even more support with the people.

Most of the Iraqi population oppose Allawi, they want a govt they elected, not one appointed by the US....

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: Alistar7

Originally posted by: Spencer278
This is a major progaganda win for the people that oppose Allawi. It sends the message that Allawi can't protect them but the rebals can and there for they will get even more support with the people.

Most of the Iraqi population oppose Allawi, they want a govt they elected, not one appointed by the US....

I agree but if Allawi was able to demostart that he could protect people and dring terrorist to justice it would do a hell of a lot to increase his support.

 

[Alistar7]

Originally posted by: Spencer278

Originally posted by: Alistar7

Originally posted by: Spencer278
This is a major progaganda win for the people that oppose Allawi. It sends the message that Allawi can't protect them but the rebals can and there for they will get even more support with the people.

Most of the Iraqi population oppose Allawi, they want a govt they elected, not one appointed by the US....

I agree but if Allawi was able to demostart that he could protect people and dring terrorist to justice it would do a hell of a lot to increase his support.

He's done, they would never elect him at least as far as current opinions are concerned. It would take a heroic effort on his part to garner the level of support he would need, perhaps he could a viable future candidate after the first elections though.

 

[conjur]

Kidnappers give Allawi 48 hours to halt assault on Fallujah
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl...10/content_2201052.htm

BAGHDAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A militant group kidnapping three family members of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi threatened on Wednesday to kill them if Allawi doesn't order a withdrawal from the besieged Fallujah.

In a statement, the group known to be Ansar al-Jihad (Partisans of Holy War) claimed responsibility for the abduction and threatened to behead the three if Allawi fails to meet its demands in 48 hours.

"We demand the agent government liberate all the prisoners in Iraq, women and men, and lift the siege over Fallujah and stop the military action against the city," said the previously unknown group.

The authenticity of the statement, published on a website, could not be verified independently.

Earlier reports said that a first cousin of Allawi, the cousin's wife and his daughter-in-law were kidnapped on Tuesday evening from their house in Baghdad.

Three cars with at least six men inside pulled up to the house in Baghdad's southern district of Al-Kadisiya, from where they took Ghazi Allawi and his two family members, an official source was quoted as saying.

Allawi, who leads the current Iraqi interim government, was the latest victim of the rampant wave of abduction. Over 100 foreigners and relatives of wealthy figures have been kidnapped in Iraq for political or financial purposes.

The abduction followed a joint US-Iraqi all-out offensive in Fallujah, a long-time rebel bastion since the war last year, to clear the city of insurgents.

Allawi issued this week the order to start a state of emergency across Iraq and authorized US and Iraqi forces to storm Fallujah. The iron-handed move has also aroused disputes among the Iraqi society.

There has been no report of suspension in the ongoing military action so far. Allawi often made remarks that his government would not bow to kidnappers and criminals.

 

[TravisT]

Darn, it sucks that these are the kinds of people we are having to deal with.

 

[cKGunslinger]

Originally posted by: conjur
Kidnappers give Allawi 48 hours to halt assault on Fallujah
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl...10/content_2201052.htm

 

[dahunan]

[me before coffee and not yet awake] If he really believes in his plan for his country then he should just go psycho and figure out where his family and the terrorists are then just kill all of them and tell the terrorists I WILL NOT NEGOTIATE WITH YOU BASTARDS - EVER! [/me before coffee and not yet awake]




I do sincerely hope they come back unharmed.. but the success ratio is not good.They sure picked a good group to kidnap this time instead of some random japanese tourist and aid workers.

 

[Martin]

Originally posted by: conjur
Kidnappers give Allawi 48 hours to halt assault on Fallujah
http://news.xinhuanet.com/engl...10/content_2201052.htm

BAGHDAD, Nov. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A militant group kidnapping three family members of Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi threatened on Wednesday to kill them if Allawi doesn't order a withdrawal from the besieged Fallujah.

I guess we know what their fate will be.

 

[jpeyton]

Kidnappings will only intensify as the elections draw nearer. Any *elected* puppet of the US government faces a serious risk of assassination because of the security in that country.

 

[BarneyFife]

At least the kidnapped were old so they lived most of their life.

 

[Zebo]

That sucks they dead. WTF was he doing having his family there? This man is a totally incompitant CIA shill where every Iraqi is gunning for him.

 

[Perknose]

This is all going so well. Who can doubt the wisdom of our Great Helmsman?