Irish Red Cross calls for release of abducted Iraqi colleagues

The Irish Red Cross is joining calls for the release of a number of Iraqi Red Crescent staff and other volunteers who were abducted in Baghdad over the weekend.

The group were taken hostage during a raid on the organisation's offices in the Iraqi capital last Sunday.

Calling for their release today, Irish Red Cross chairman David Andrews said the abducted staff were entitled to full protection under international humanitarian law.