Gunmen on Tuesday killed two Iraqi police officers in Baqouba, northeast of Baghdad, while another police officer was also killed by gunmen in the capital. Also on Tuesday, member of the Badr group, the former military wing of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI) was also killed by gunmen in Baghdad.
On Monday, four women were killed when the car they were traveling in in town of Buhriz was fired upon. Two children were also wounded in the incident.
Jordanian embassy employee abducted
Mahmoud Saedat, an employee of the Jordanian embassy in Iraq, was reportedly kidnapped on Tuesday outside of his home in southern Baghdad. Iraqi police sources said that Saedat was abducted when three cars arrived at his home and several men seized him at gunpoint.
Saedet's post at the embassy remains unclear, though earlier reports that he was a driver have been questioned, with Iraqi sources saying that he may have held a more important position.
Saedat is one of several Jordanian embassy workers to have been abducted in Iraq this year. Some of the captives have been executed by their captors.
Those reponsible oppose Jordanian ties with the west and in particular, the United States and its US-led invasion into Iraq, as well as the US-backed Shiite government in Iraq.
Embassy officials had no information regarding the incident.
US Vice President Dick Cheney cuts Middle East visit short
Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney cut his visit to the Middle East and Asia short and will return to Washington on Wednesday.
His return was supposedly to allow the vice president to be available if his vote is needed on legislation moving through Congress prior to the upcoming Christmas and New Year's holiday break.
"He's needed for close votes," Cheney adviser Steve Schmidt told reporters.
"The vice president is returning to Washington to be on hand in the Senate ... to cast tie-breaking votes if necessary."
On Tuesday Cheney arrived in Pakistan to meet with President Pervez Musharraf. He then continued to Afghanistan and Iraq.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
