Iraqi forces free 15 Shi'ite hostage families

IRAQI security forces raided a town in central Iraq and freed some 15 Shi'ite families being held hostage yesterday, an official said, after Sunni militants threatened to kill captives unless all Shi'ites left the area.

The Government said it was trying to resolve the stand-off peacefully, while Shi'ite lawmakers called for action to stop "terrorist groups from promoting sectarian violence."

Security forces, who had the town of Madain surrounded, began raiding sites Saturday in search of those abducted, said Qassim Dawoud, the minister in charge of national security.