The director of CARE International's operations in Iraq was kidnapped early Tuesday in Baghdad, the organization said. Margaret Hassan, said to be an Iraqi national, was abducted in the capital at 7:30 a.m., CARE International, United Kingdom said in a statement released in London and read to The Associated Press in Baghdad. "As of now we are unaware of the motives for the abduction," the statement said. "As far as we know, Margaret is unharmed.
The statement said Hassan had been "providing humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq" for more than 25 years. "Needless to say, we are doing whatever we can to secure her release," the statement added. "But equally, it would be unhelpful for us to comment further at this time. Our overwhelming concern must be for Margaret's safety." |