Kidnapped U.S. soldier identified
BAGHDAD, Nov. 2 (UPI) -- U.S. military officials in Iraq Thursday identified the U.S. soldier abducted Oct. 23 in Baghdad as Ahmed Qusai al-Taai, an Iraqi-American translator.
Maj. Gen. William Caldwell said the 41-year-old had left the protected Green Zone to visit his Iraqi wife when he was handcuffed and taken away by gunmen, reports CNN. He was quoted as saying there is a "tremendous amount of political activity" and "ongoing dialogue" to find al-Taai.
The general also said the military has intelligence as to who might have abducted al-Taai, and his captors are still holding the victim.
"There is ongoing dialogue that is being done at different levels at this time, but it would be inappropriate for me to state with whom or at what level," Caldwell said.
He said one coalition soldier has died and eight U.S. soldiers and two Iraqi security forces have been wounded in the effort to find al-Taai and his kidnappers, the report said.
Caldwell said al-Taai had not violated any military rules because he had married his Iraqi wife before being deployed to Iraq.
©2006 by United Press International