Iraqi TV presenter abducted in Mosul

[Barrett808]

The anchorwoman of one of Iraq's regional broadcasters has been abducted in the northern city of Mosul.

Raiida al-Wazan, 36, the only woman news presenter for Nineveh province regional television, was seized on Sunday while travelling to work in east Mosul, 390 km north of Baghdad, station director Razi Faisal said.

Ms Wazan's 10-year old daughter was also in the car when she was abducted but it was not clear if she was missing as well, Ms Faisal told Reuters.

He said there had been no word so far from the abductors.

He added that his staff frequently receive threats from insurgents battling the US-backed Government.

Hundreds of Iraqis and foreigners have been kidnapped in the country in the past 12 months.

Many are taken by criminal gangs seeking a ransom but some have also been killed by militants.

News of Ms Wazan's abduction came as a tape apparently showed the release of two Indonesian journalists seized west of Baghdad last week.

Two foreign journalists, Florence Aubenas of France who disappeared in January and Italian Giuliana Sgrena, taken on February 4, are still missing.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200502/s1307897.htm

[Monkie]

1. i wonder if this is that tv station the us army was hyping?

http://www.defendamerica.mil/articles/jul2003/a070803f.html

"MOSUL, Iraq – The official opening of TV Mosul on July 2 marked the first step on the road to free press for northern Iraq, according to officials with the 22nd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.

The mayor of Mosul, Gahnim al-Basso, and U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey J. Schloesser, the 101st Airborne Division, Air Assault, assistant division commander for support, came to express their support for the regional television station. Al-Basso cut the streamer at the entrance of the facility to begin the festivities."

"Mosul TV is crucial to the division since it serves as direct communication for more than 100 kilometers outside the city limits of the province informing listeners about the contributions of local coalition forces. The 22nd Detachment created the Arabic-language program Iraqi Freedom News and with the help of the 40th Public Affairs Detachment, Fort Campbell, Ky., ensures it airs at least four times a week"

not sure about this though..