Foreigners a target for militant groups

INSURGENTS in war-ravaged Iraq have kidnapped more than 150 foreigners in their campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction.

The abduction of Margaret Hassan comes less than two weeks after the horrific murder of Ken Bigley.

The 62-year-old engineer from Liverpool was beheaded after being held for more than 20 days by the Tawhid and Jihad Group, who demanded the release of two women prisoners.

His fellow captives Americans Jack Hensley and Eugene Armstrong were also slaughtered by the militants.

The number of kidnappings soared in Iraq this year when 31 foreigners were captured in August alone.

Often captors demand that foreign governments withdraw troops from Iraq in exchange for the hostage’s freedom.

Many captured foreigners have been freed but at least 23 have been killed; their deaths broadcast on the internet or on Arabic TV.

The murder of reporter Daniel Pearl in Pakistan in 2002 was one of the to be posted in cyberspace.

Many Iraqis have also been kidnapped, in most cases for ransom.

Hundreds of civilians are being pulled out of Iraq, as foreign governments advise their citizens it is not safe.

However, contractors earn excellent wages, and many decide to work for a short time to benefit from the financial rewards.

Kidnappings often led to intense public pressure being put on political leaders in the home countries of those captured. The Philippines withdrew its 51-strong contingent of troops a month early to secure the release of captured lorry driver Angelo de la Cruz in July.

In September, two Italian women who were working for a humanitarian group in Iraq were kidnapped in Baghdad.

Witnesses said armed men abducted Simona Pari and Simona Torretta, both 29, and two Iraqis.

The pair were freed after the Italian government reportedly paid kidnappers $1 million for their release.

French journalists Christian Chesnot, 37, of Radio France Internationale and Georges Malbrunot, 41, of French daily Le Figaro were abducted while working in Iraq in August.

That same month, a headless body found in the river Tigris was confirmed as being that of the Bulgarian Ivaylo Kepov.

In May, a chilling video footage posted on the internet showed US businessman Nick Berg being beheaded by a group of five men wearing headscarves and black masks.