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Iraq: Twenty-six Red Crescent employees released in Baghdad

Baghdad_(dpa) _ Some 26 of 30 Red Crescent workers kidnapped Sunday from the organization's offices in central Baghdad have been released, a Red Crescent spokesman said Tuesday.

"Seventeen employees were released yesterday, while nine others have been released today," the spokesman said.

Four Red Crescent hostages remain in the custody of the kidnappers, although the spokesman said he believed that they would be released shortly.

Gunmen wearing police commando uniforms stormed the main offices of the Red Crescent in Baghdad Sunday, abducting only male workers. The kidnappers claimed to be conducting a random inspection.

Meanwhile the families of Iraqi government employees abducted in an earlier mass kidnapping have said they will stage a demonstration on Wednesday to draw attention to the unresolved plight of their loved ones.

The families said they would stage a protest in front of the Ministry of Research and Higher Education, for which the kidnapped individuals had worked.

"The fate of about 65 out of the 150 kidnapped is unknown," an Iraqi official source said on condition of anonymity. "There is no glimpse of hope as to when the remaining hostages will be released."

The source reported that the dead bodies of some hostages were found with signs of torture.

About 150 male Iraqi ministry employees and researchers were kidnapped on November 15 by militants in police uniform in central Baghdad.

Also Tuesday, a US marine died from wounds received while operating in Fallujah in al-Anbar province, and Iraqi National Police manning a security checkpoint in Baghdad potentially saved many Iraqi lives by thwarting a car bomb attack.

A car driver stopped short of a checkpoint in al-Amariya district and got out of his car, sources said. He told the police officers he had been kidnapped and forced to drive to that location.

The driver said he suspected that kidnappers placed an explosive device in the vehicle. An Iraqi police officer immediately cleared the area after seeing a suspicious bag in the vehicle's trunk.

The bomb detonated shortly afterwards, but did not cause any injuries due to the actions of the police. The driver of the vehicle was held for further questioning.

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