A convoy of 19 vehicles carrying 14 civilians was hijacked Thursday near Nasiriyah. Four Americans are believed to have been amongst the hostages. The Pentagon has confirmed the hijacking.
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Iraqi officials said Thursday that many of the 70 hostages who have been released from the mass kidnapping in Baghdad early in the week were tortured. Although it was originally estimated that 50 had been kidnapped, the head of the Higher Education Ministry Abed Theyab, from where the hostages were taken, now says that in addition to the 70 freed, some 80 remain in captivity.   more »

Amidst growing international fears that the budding civil war in Iraq will bloom into a large scale Middle Eastern military conflict involving neighboring Arab countries, the U.S. is sending 2,200 additional troops Thursday to the Anbar province for what is termed a “short measure” to curb rising conflict in the area.   more »

A warrant has been issued in Iraq Thursday for the arrest of mullah Harith al-Dhari, a prominent Sunni religious figure.   more »