Local Marines Investigated in Iraqi death

CAMP FALLUJAH, IRAQ- (5-25-06) According to information from Major General Richard C. Zilmer, commanding general, Multi-National Force - West, Marines assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment out of Camp Pendleton are being investigated in connection with the death of an Iraqi civilian. The incident occurred April 26th in the area of Hamandiyah, west of Baghdad. Officials say the first became aware of the incident at a regular meeting with local Iraqi. The Marines suspected to be involved were returned to the United States pending the investigation.

Gunmen kidnap 15 Iraqi athletes

Iraq : Fifteen members of the Iraqi Tae Kwon Do team have been kidnapped between Fallujah and Ramadi, west of Baghdad, Iraq's Olympic Committee said. "Armed men kidnapped 15 members of the national Tae Kwon Do team as they returned by coach from Amman," Jamel Abdel Karim of the committee said.

"The kidnappers have demanded a ransom of $US100,000 ($130,000) in return for their freedom," he said.

The towns of Fallujah, 50 kilometres west of Baghdad, and Ramadi, 100 kilometres west of the capital, are focal points of Iraq's Sunni uprising.

Thousands of Iraqis have been kidnapped since US-led coalition forces invaded the country in March 2003.

Since an attack on a Shiite mausoleum in the Sunni town of Samarra, kidnappings followed by executions have increased dramatically.

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SOURCE -http://www.paktribune.com/news/index.php?id=144026