News-Info-Alerts

Re: Fedayeen Belived to be Abductors

From: POW-MIA InterNetwork

Date: June 28, 2003

"Pro-Saddam militias 'abduct' US troops
American soldier killed, 9 hurt south of Baghdad

AFP, Balad

US military intelligence believes that Fedayeen militia abducted two US soldiers and their Humvee light armoured vehicle for use in attacks on US troops in Iraq, an army officer said yesterday.

"They believe Fedayeen (militia) were using it, trying to get close to Americans with the vehicle to probably conduct another terrorist attack against them," Major Robert Twinner told the wire service.

"The last time they spotted the vehicle was in Baghdad," he said.

The two soldiers were believed to have gone missing Wednesday in a remote location around 40 km south of Balad, he added.

"The best intelligence reports we have right now is that it was Fedayeen. They actually abducted the soldiers and took the vehicle," he added.

The Fedayeen militia loyal to Saddam Hussein put up some of the strongest resistance to US and British forces who invaded Iraq in March to topple Saddam's regime.

While the major combats have been declared over and the regime dissolved, US troops trying to rebuild the country have come under daily guerrilla-style attacks which have caused nearly 20 deaths.

US troops scouring the northern Iraqi town of Balad for two missing soldiers admitted yesterday they could not understand how someone would be able to abduct two US soldiers and their armoured vehicle.

Blood was found near their post in the vicinity of the flashpoint town, but there was no other trace of the two soldiers or the Humvee, a defence official in Washington said Thursday, asking not to be named. "