Citing the failure of the Shiite-dominant government to deal with the attacks of Shiite militias such as that responsible for the kidnapping of several people from the Ministry of Higher Education in Baghdad earlier this week, Minister Abed Dhiab announced Friday that he is officially suspending cooperation with the government until there is change.

Dhiab voiced increasing concern for as many as 80 people remaining captive after the kidnapping. Of the 70 released, he fears many have been tortured and some killed. These numbers contrast with information released by the office of the Prime Minister, which gives the total kidnapped as 40 and those held as around five.

This latest incident has caused a greater rift in the govenment between Shiite and Sunni members. Meanwhile, amidst stepped-up efforts by U.S. and other coalition troops to stem increasing violence in Iraq, an arrest warrant issued by Iraqi police remains in effect for Sunni leader cleric Harith al-Dhari, who told the press from his Jordan location that he considers the warrant "illegal". Also, U.S. troops and Iraqi police search in southern Iraq for American hostages still held captive after the ambush of a civilian convoy on Thursday.