Boy, seven, taken hostage

Gunmen in Iraq have abducted a seven-year-old Lebanese boy and are demanding a ransom for his release, Lebanon’s official news agency reported today.

Mohammed Hamad, the son of Abdel-Ghani Hamad, who has lived in Iraq for 30 years, was kidnapped two days ago on his way home from school in the Diyala province east of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the state-run National News Agency said.

The report said the Lebanese Embassy in Baghdad had been informed of the ransom demand and that the Lebanese charge d’affaires in Iraq, Hassan Hijazi, was making contacts to try and secure the child’s release.

No other details were immediately available.

Insurgents in Iraq have kidnapped more than 150 foreigners. Most have been kidnapped for ransom and freed unharmed, but at least 30 have been killed in a violent campaign to drive out coalition forces and hamper reconstruction efforts.

Besides Mohammed, three other Lebanese are believed to be held hostage in Iraq.

Thus far, one Lebanese who was abducted has been killed: Hussein Ali Alyan, a 26-year-old construction worker whose body was found June 12.

Hundreds of Lebanese, mainly construction workers and industrialists, went to Iraq looking for opportunities in the massive post-war reconstruction.