Gunmen in Baghdad kidnapped a Sunni female legislator Saturday along with seven of her bodyguards, the parliament speaker's office said. Tayseer Mashhadani, an engineer, was seized in the predominantly Shiite neighborhood of Shaab, the officials said. Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani described the kidnapping as "a major development and a violation against the will of the Iraqi people." | You might say that. It's a pretty rare ocurrence in civilized parts... |
A Sunni legislator told The Associated Press that Mashhadani was coming from the eastern province of Diyala in a three-car convoy that was stopped by heavily armed gunmen in at least seven cars. They were taken to an unknown location, said Sunni legislator Mohammed al-Daeni. Mashhadani was coming to Baghdad to attend a parliament meeting on Sunday, he said. The Iraqi Islamic Party, the largest Sunni political group, condemned the kidnapping and said it holds the defense and interior ministers responsible for the ongoing violence. The statement said Mashhadani and seven of her eight guards were kidnapped by some 30 gunmen in civilian uniforms. The statement added that some of the gunmen were carrying pistols used by authorities, an apparent reference to Shiite militias believed to be working under the Interior Ministry.