Russian worker killed, two taken hostage in Iraq
(Agencies)
Updated: 2004-05-11 15:14

One Russian worker was killed and two others taken hostage in Iraq, Russia's foreign ministry said on Tuesday, prompting the Russian contractor for which they worked to consider withdrawing its staff.  

Britain's Defence Minister Geoff Hoon leaves Parliament in London where he spoke at the House of Commons about the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners by British troops. [AFP]

The workers were from Interenergoservis, the engineering company from which eight workers were briefly kidnapped in Baghdad last month, the ministry said in a statement, adding the attack had taken place on Monday.

State television reported the workers had been traveling between Baghdad and Latifiya on Monday evening when their car was attacked by unknown assailants.

"As a result of the incident one citizen died and two were taken hostage by the attackers," the ministry said. "All possible measures are being taken to free our citizens as quickly as possible."

Itar-Tass quoted an Interenergoservis spokesman as saying the company was considering withdrawing all its workers from Iraq.

Last month Russia airlifted out of Iraq more than three hundred of its workers and those from other ex-Soviet countries.

Hundreds opted to remain in Baghdad, including many from Interenergoservis, a contractor involved in work on a power plant project 20 miles south of the Iraqi capital.

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