DUBAI (Reuters) - A little-known group said it had abducted an Iranian security agent and would behead him unless Iran freed jailed members of the group, Al Arabiya television reported Monday. A video tape aired by the satellite channel showed four gunmen standing near the hostage, who was identified as Shahab Mansouri. A fifth man appeared to be questioning him, but there was no soundtrack.
"A group calling itself the Organization of God's Soldiers ... said it would send the hostage's head as a gift to the elected president if its demands are not met," Al Arabiya said. The group gave Iranian authorities three weeks to free its imprisoned members, the channel said. Iranian officials were not immediately available for comment.
The gunmen shown in the video, whose authenticity could not be verified immediately, were dressed in tribal robes. Their faces were covered in black cloth. Al Arabiya said it did no broadcast the full tape because some segments promoted "hatred and sectarian violence." | Yeah, we can't have any of that on Iranian TV. |
Kidnappings are rare in Iran. The Islamic Republic will hold its second round of presidential elections Friday.
The polls were preceded by a rare string of bomb attacks that killed nine people, including in southwestern Iran, home to the country's Arab ethnic minority. At least six people were reported arrested after the bombings. Iran says it is holding an unspecified number of al Qaeda members whom it plans to try for crimes against the Islamic state. | Boy, this is tough. I can't decide between popcorn or the sympathy meter. |
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