British Aid Worker Kidnapped in Iraq
 

The British charity CARE International has reported that its head of operations in Iraq has been kidnapped.

A spokeswoman said that Margaret Hassan, who had been working for the charity in Iraq for more than a decade, was taken early today.

A spokesman for the organisation's Australian branch said Ms Hassan was CARE's head of operations in Iraq.

He said she was an Iranian national who had been caring for people in the country for more than 25 years.

The CARE International Web site says it is a global humanitarian organisation, working with more than 30 million disadvantaged people each year in 72 of the world's poorest countries.

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "It is a very disturbing development and our thoughts are with her family.

"She has been working extremely hard all her life for the benefit of the people of Iraq."

Ken Bigley, 62, from Liverpool, was taken hostage on 16 September and beheaded by militants more than three weeks later.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We have reports from our embassy in Baghdad that Margaret Hassan, Iraq country director for CARE International, was taken hostage early this morning.

"The embassy is trying urgently to establish what has happened and working closely with the Iraqi authorities.

"Consular officials are in touch with her next of kin.''



just got that from aol news

Like giving away methodone whilst wearing a Man U kit in Toxteth - For all the good it might be doing you know there's a pretty good chance something bad might happen to you....

Not quite the same as KenBigley though. She's an Iranian national and it's her home where she's been 25 years. Not a brit visiting.