Iranian Diplomat Reportedly Held in Iraq

Asocilialated Press ^ | 8/8/04 | Asocilialated Press

[Dallas59]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants in Iraq (news - web sites) said Sunday they had taken a top Iranian diplomat hostage, according to video shown on the Arab-language Al-Arabiya television station.

[Dallas59]

Nothing else yet. Why would they hold one of thier own?

[js1138]

Perhaps they will force Iran to withdraw its troops?

[Dallas59]

Probably thought he was an "evil" westerner, or maybe they may demand more money or weapons from Iran.

[Peach]

This will be interesting.

[nuconvert]

Sounds fishy to me...........

[Dallas59]

BAGHDAD, Iraq - Militants in Iraq (news - web sites) said Sunday they had taken a top Iranian diplomat hostage, according to video shown on the Arab-language Al-Arabiya television station.

The video showed a bearded man identified as Faridoun Jihani speaking to the camera, though his voice was not audible. The video also showed nine forms of his identification, as well as his passport and a business card identifying him as the "consul for the Islamic Republic of Iran in Karbala," a southern Iraqi city.


The kidnappers, who called themselves the "Islamic Army in Iraq," accused Jihani of provoking sectarian war in Iraq and they warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq's affairs, according to Al-Arabiya.


The kidnappers did not appear to threaten Jihani and made no demands, according to the report.


Jihani would be the second senior diplomat taken hostage in Iraq in recent weeks. Mohammed Mamdouh Helmi Qutb, an Egyptian diplomat, was abducted July 23 outside a mosque in Baghdad and freed unharmed July 26.



http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20040808/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq_iranian_diplomat_2

[Dallas59]

Hmmmmm....

[nuconvert]

Accidentally on purpose..............

[Dutch Boy]

I'm smelling the same fish.

[nuconvert]

Iranian "Diplomats" are expendable

[Blue_Ridge_Mtn_Geek]

Think "Shiites vs Sunni".... They may all hate our guts, but like us, they are far from united.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Cut his head off.

[nuconvert]

They'll do as they're told

[True Capitalist]

The kidnappers, who called themselves the "Islamic Army in Iraq," accused Jihani of provoking sectarian war in Iraq and they warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq's affairs, according to Al-Arabiya.

Initially al Zarqawi also provoked sectarian war in Iraq, but perhaps Ansar al Islam and al Qaeda view al Sadr as an overriding threat?

[F14 Pilot]

I think they will do it!

[Joe Boucher]

love to see iran drug into active fighting.
tell me American soldiers wouldn't love to kick some iranian bootie?

Also don't you think that an attack by iran on Iraq might just be the best way to unite Iraquis?

[tiamat]

Dallas59 wrote:

Nothing else yet. Why would they hold one of thier own?

---

For the ransom, of course!

It's an old tradition, thereabouts....

[No Blue States]

"accused Jihani of provoking sectarian war in Iraq and they warned Iran not to interfere in Iraq's affairs,"

Maybe I dont get it, but this sounds good to me on face value. About time some Iraqis get tired of and stand up to Iranian interference.

[xkaydet65]

And there's a problem here???

[chilepepper]

Maybe Allawi will stage a video dressed up as al Qaeda and cut off his head with a dull knife. Then the Iranis will produce the al Qaeda leadership in an Irani press conference who state they would never kipnap one of their allies and cut off his head in a whoops, a "did i say that?" moment...