[Mb-civic] CBC News - 2 CANADIANS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ

Sun Nov 27 16:12:27 PST 2005

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2 CANADIANS KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ
WebPosted Sun Nov 27 11:16:57 2005

---Four humanitarian workers, including two Canadians, have been taken
hostage in Iraq, the Department of Foreign Affairs said Sunday.

Media reports identified the others as American and British.

A British Foreign Office spokeswoman identified the missing Briton as
Norman Kember and said they were "urgently investigating" reports that he
had been kidnapped, reported Reuters.

Kember was representing several aid agencies, which have not been
identified.

The U.S. is investigating the reports that one of those kidnapped is
American, a spokesperson said.

The Canadian Embassy in Amman, Jordan, notified Foreign Affairs about the
kidnapping on Saturday. Canada does not have an embassy in Iraq.

The aid agency has asked that the names not be released, Dan
McTeague, the parliamentary secretary to the minister of foreign
affairs, said Sunday.

McTeague said the aid agency, which he would not name, "has not requested
any assistance at this time." Officials in Amman and Ottawa are in
contact with the organization, he added.

The humanitarian workers are reported to have been taken from a violent
area in western Baghdad on Saturday.

In April 2004, Foreign Affairs issued an advisory that said no Canadians
should travel to Iraq.

"Under no circumstances should Canadians be there," McTeague said Sunday.
"The situation remains very unstable &#8230; and continues to be a danger
for all foreign travellers."

He said Canada does not have an embassy in Iraq, but Foreign Affairs will
continue to collect information about the kidnapping.

At least 200 foreigners have been abducted in Iraq in the past year
and a half.