Posted on 10/12/2004 1:06:58 PM PDT by TexKat
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - An American photographer abducted by gunmen in Baghdad on Sunday has been freed and is safe, the picture agency representing him said on Tuesday.
Paul Taggart, 24, has been released and has spoken by telephone with his parents in Tulsa, Oklahoma, said Stephen Claypole, chief executive officer of the World Picture News agency in New York.
Claypole said Taggart, who had been in Iraq (news - web sites) for about five months, was kidnapped by three masked gunmen early on Sunday morning in Baghdad's Habbeya Square when his car was intercepted by what appeared to be a criminal gang.
He had been on his way to a planned 10-day picture-shooting project in Sadr City, the sprawling and volatile Shi'ite slum area in the east of the city.
The abduction was one of dozens of kidnappings of non-Iraqis in recent months, many of which have ended with the victims killed by beheading or other means.
The work of media in Iraq has been severely limited because of the deadly uprising by opponents of the U.S.-led forces that occupied the country last year. Frequent bombings, abductions and shooting have made moving around the country extremely dangerous.
Taggart's release was partly facilitated by his journalist colleagues in the Baghdad, Claypole said. "He is on his way now to the New York Times compound in Baghdad," he added. He did not give details about the circumstances of the release.
The NY Times? Hell, why kidnap and kill your allies? No wonder they let him go.
I don't recall hearing anything about American photographers being taken hostage.
Doubtless he showed them all his "American atrocity" photos, as well as his shots of dead US soldiers. If that failed, he probably produced his Kerry-Edwards campaign button.
I'm glad he's free, but it seems that being a media person is the only ticket out of the slaughter. Useful dhimmitude.
Wasn't that one of the looter's names in "Atlas Shrugged?" Hah, I think he may even been associated with newspapers.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.