Iraqi defence minister's brother-in-law kidnapped

Militants kidnapped the brother-in-law of Iraqi Defence Minister Hazem Shaalan and demanded he end all military operations in the holy city of Najaf, Al-Jazeera television reported today.

The militants, calling themselves the “Divine Wrath Brigades,” said they kidnapped Major General Salah Hassan Lami, Shaalan’s brother-in-law and the director of military affairs at the Defence Ministry, according to Al-Jazeera.

A second man was also kidnapped, though it was unclear if he was related to Lami or Shaalan.

The two men are shown in the video sitting before two black-clad men, one of whom was holding a gun.

The militants also demanded the release of Sheik Ali Smeisim, a top aide to radical Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who was arrested in Najaf earlier today.