Secret operation launched to secure Britons' release

Source: gulfnews.com

Secret operation launched to secure Britons' release
By Basil Adas, Correspondent
Published: May 19, 2008, 00:17


Baghdad: British and American Special Forces have started a secret operation inside the Shiite Sadr City of Baghdad searching for five British hostages, taking advantage of the recently-signed agreement between the Sadr trend and the Shiite ruling coalition, which came into effect last Friday, senior military sources said.

The sources confirmed to Gulf News that "special personnel trained to free the hostages will accompany the Iraqi forces that are allowed to enter the Sadr City according to the agreement to look for and release the five British hostages."

The five British hostages, a computer expert and four of his guards, were abducted from the Iraqi Finance Ministry in May 2007. The abduction was carried out by kidnappers wearing police uniforms and driving police vehicles.

At the time Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari accused the Mahdi Army of carrying out the abductions. The abduction took place on Palestine Street, east of the Iraqi capital, which is a few kilometers away from the main Sadr City entrance. Witnesses had given information affirming that hostages were taken by police vehicles which headed to Sadr City, passing Canal Street.




Read more: http://www.gulfnews.com/region/Iraq/10214388.html

nt