Ten Sunni and Shi'ite tribal leaders who had joined forces against al-Qaida in Iraq were abducted by gunmen as they were traveling home to Diyala province after a meeting with a government official in Baghdad, police and a relative said.
The gunmen ambushed the two cars carrying the 10 men in Baghdad's predominantly Shi'ite neighborhood of Shaab at about 3:30 p.m., police officials said. The sheiks - seven Sunnis and three Shi'ites - were on their way back to Diyala province after attending a conference with the Shi'ite-dominated government's adviser for tribal affairs to discuss coordinating efforts against al-Qaida in Iraq. |