Eight employees of Russian company held hostage in Iraq released after day

[Judi Lynn]

Eight employees of Russian company held hostage in Iraq released after day in captivity
By Hamza Hendawi, Associated Press, 4/13/2004 06:49

BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) Eight employees of a Russian energy company seized by masked gunmen who broke into their house in Baghdad were released unharmed Tuesday after less than a day in captivity, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

Dozens of foreigners from at least 12 countries have reportedly been kidnapped in recent days. Nine Americans were missing, including a Mississippi man whose abductors have threatened to kill him.

The abduction of the five Ukrainians and three Russians at their residence Monday appeared to be a new tactic by kidnappers. All the past kidnappings have come on the roads, with civilians whisked away after their vehicles come under attack.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Alexander Yakovenko said that no one had claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and no demands were known to have been made prior to the release of the captives. The men work for the Russian energy company Interenergoservis, which is restoring a power plant near Baghdad.
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http://www.boston.com/dailynews/104/world/Eight_employees_of_Russian_com:.shtml