New Defence Against Hostage Taking

Al-Iraq al-Yoom is a weekly newspaper issued by Isra Shakir.

Tuesday, 19 December, 2006

IWPR

Institute for War & Peace Reporting

New Defence Against Hostage Taking

Al-Iraq al-Yoom is a weekly newspaper issued by Isra Shakir.

After the spread of mass kidnappings that have engulfed the capital recently, the ministry of defence is to station small forces in residential areas to respond to emergencies. The forces will also be given more freedom of movement to deal with incidents. Ministry of defence spokesman Mohammed al-Askari said that a lack of security forces had made innocent civilians an easy target for kidnapping by insurgents in their bid to destabilise the country. The armed groups last month captured senior ministry staff, and last Sunday staff from the organisation Red Crescent.

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