US, Iraq search for abducted Americans

US and Iraqi authorities were searching yesterday for three Americans who were kidnapped in Baghdad, the latest group of foreign nationals abducted in recent months.

Kidnappers have recently seized Qataris and Turks, but it has been years since Americans were abducted, and Iraqis have suffered the most from kidnappers seeking ransoms or to settle scores.

The Islamic State group, which overran large areas in 2014, has abducted thousands of people and carried out a slew of executions, while Shia paramilitary forces opposed to the jihadists have also carried out kidnappings and killings.

Iraqi parliament speaker Salim al-Juburi condemned the rise in "cases of foreigners being kidnapped in Iraq."