Mark's Notebook


	One of the nice parts about heading toward middle age is that you can find all your favorite music in the bargain bin. - Ken Floyd

CARE Official Abducted in Iraq Presumed Dead

Washington Post

Wednesday 17 November 2004, 11:42 am
Keywords: News Articles

By Karl Vick

The British government concluded Tuesday that Margaret Hassan, a British-Iraqi relief official who worked on behalf of poor Iraqis for more than 20 years, was probably killed by kidnappers who seized her in Baghdad a month ago.

The abduction of Hassan, 59, had provoked outrage among Iraqis. Hassan had remained in the country in support of humanitarian efforts during and after the U.S. invasion, defying risks that led most aid organizations to withdraw from Iraq.

British officials reported Hassan's likely death after studying a videotape provided by al-Jazeera television in which a blindfolded woman was shot in the head at point-blank range.

There have been more than 170 kidnappings since April, and at least 34 people have been killed. The killings of hostages have brought widespread condemnation from among Iraqis, who often say such atrocities sully the image of Islam.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54134-2004Nov16.html