As Many As 50 People Kidnapped In Baghdad

The son of a victim of violence in Baghdad weeps, February 10 (epa) March 8, 2006 -- Gunmen in camouflage uniforms today stormed the offices of a private Iraqi security company in eastern Baghdad and kidnapped as many as 50 employees.

An Interior Ministry official, Major Falah al-Mohammedawi, said the attackers forced employees of al-Rawafid Security Co. into seven vehicles.

Earlier on March 8, officials said that the bodies of at least 23 executed men and boys had been found in different parts of the capital. Police also say a string of explosions killed six people in Baghdad today.

The motive for the killings is not clear.

The discoveries followed a surge of sectarian violence triggered by the February 22 bombing of a major Shi'ite shrine in Samarra.

(AP)