The Saudi foreign minister appeared to be leading a camp of ministers criticizing the guerrilla group's actions, calling them "unexpected, inappropriate and irresponsible acts."
"These acts will pull the whole region back to years ago, and we cannot simply accept them," Saudi al-Faisal told his counterparts.
Supporting his stance were representatives of Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Iraq, the Palestinian Authority, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain, delegates said on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the talks.
BAGHDAD, Iraq - Gunmen kidnapped the head of Iraq's Olympic committee and more than a dozen employees Saturday after storming a sports conference in Baghdad, police said. The kidnappers wore camouflage Iraqi police uniforms and security guards outside the meeting said they did not interfere because they thought the gunmen were legitimate law enforcement, police said.
Ahmed al-Hijiya, president of the committee, was taken in the assault, which came a day after the coach of Iraq's national wrestling team was killed by kidnappers, said police Lt. Thaer Mahmoud.
Others taken Saturday included the deputy head of the Olympic committee, Ammar Jabbar al-Saadi; the chairman of the Taekwondo Federation, Jamal Abdul-Karim; and the chief of the Boxing Federation Union, Bashar Mustafa.
Two guards were killed, one while trying to flee the building.
Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani told reporters that the kidnapping was carried out by "gangs" and not security forces.
There were conflicting reports on the number of people taken but Maj. Gen. Adnan Thabet, commander of the ministry's special forces, told The Associated Press that al-Hijiya and 20 others were kidnapped.
The Sunni coach of Iraq's national wrestling team, Mohammed Karim Abid Sahib, was seized with one of his wrestlers Thursday as they left a sports center to buy sweets in the northern neighborhood of Kazimiyah, where the team was preparing for a tournament.
The coach was shot to death while trying to escape later in the day. The wrestler escaped, according to police and wrestling officials.
The team pulled out of the tournament in the United Arab Emirates.
Shades of Munich...
I'm thinking that Meshal (Hamas) is ticked at Nasrallah (Hezbollah) for stealing his press. LOL
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3276165,00.html
Peretz may designate northern Israel as "A special state"
Defense Minister Amir Peretz may declare the region of northern Israel as "A special state", following the repeated Katyusha rockets attacks.
If the north is declared being in "a special state", security officials will be able to prevent schools from opening and operate essential institutions. The government will be discussing the issue on Sunday. (Ronny Sofer)
(07.15.06, 20:23)