Iraq extends state of emergency
Parliament voted yesterday to extend Iraq's state of emergency for 30 days and President Jalal Talabani warned of the perils of civil war, as the head of Iraq's Olympic committee was kidnapped.
Also defying a security plan designed to stabilize Baghdad, fresh clashes erupted in the capital killing at least five people.
Gunmen in military uniforms staged a brazen daylight raid on a meeting of the Iraqi Olympic committee at a club in Baghdad and kidnapped four of its members and a bodyguard.
For all latest news, follow The Daily Star's Google News channel. Committee president Ahmed al-Hejea, secretary general Amr Abdel Jabbar, head of Iraq's Tae Kwon Do federation Jamal Abdel Karim, and water sports director Saeb Hakim were all taken, along with the guard.
"As far as I know, there was no interior ministry order or arrest warrant against these people," said Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani.
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