Free Republic

09/02/2008 17:26IRAQFresh violence in Mosul, two Christians kidnapped and killedThe kidnapping of two Christians has ended in tragedy, after the family of one paid a ransom of 20,000 dollars. The community of Mosul hopes that the Muslims will strongly condemn the murders. Mosul (AsiaNews) - The Iraqi Christian community is again in the sights of Islamic fundamentalists in Mosul: today news came of the death of a 65-year-old doctor, Tariq Qattan, kidnapped recently by a terrorist group. AsiaNews sources say that his family had paid a ransom of 20,000 U.S. dollars. But it was not enough money to free Tariq...

AL-KHOBAR, Saudi Arabia (AFP) - Shooting subsided at the site of a hostage-taking drama in this Saudi oil city after a bout of intense firing, an AFP correspondent reported. Automatic and heavy weapons were used at 2:20 am (23:20 GMT Saturday), suggesting security forces had begun storming the building where gunmen are holding an unknown number of captives, the correspondent said from just outside The Oasis compound in Al-Khobar after reporters were ordered out of the facility. But after around 10 minutes, the firing became intermittent and eventually died down, indicating the assault might not yet have started or was...