Two members of the Iraqi prime minister's family were nabbed from their home in Baghdad, his spokesman said Wednesday. The kidnappers said they would execute them in two days if their demands are not met.
According to The AP, interim government spokesman Thair al-Naqeeb said in a statement that Allawi's relatives were snatched from their home in the western Yarmouk neighborhood Tuesday evening.
Al-Naqeeb identified the two as the prime minister's cousin, Ghazi Allawi, and the cousin's daughter-in-law.
"Ghazi Allawi is 75 years old. He has no political affiliation, and is not holding a government post," the statement added.
A posting on an Islamist Web site by a group calling itself Ansar al-Jihad group claimed responsibility for kidnapping three Allawi relatives, and threatened to behead them in 48 hours. They demanded that Allawi and his government free all female and male detainees in Iraq, and stop the US attack on Fallujah.
"We promise Allah and his messenger that if the agent government doesn't respond to our demands within 48 hours, they (the two hostages) will be beheaded."
The group stated its activists have kidnapped Allawi's cousin, the cousin's wife and another relative. (albawaba.com)
