1 of 5 Hostages in Security Contractor Abduction Said Killed in Iraq

One of the five security contractors abducted Thursday when their envoy was stopped by men posing as police officials has been killed, Reuters reports.

The news comes from a representative of the office of the governor of Basra in southern Iraq, according to Reuters.

Four of the Crescent Security Group employees taken by the insurgents were American, and one was of Austrian descent. It is unclear whether the deceased is an American or Austrian, Reuters reports.

Earlier in the day, a police official in Basra claimed that two hostages had been freed due to an Iraqi police operation, and the representative of Basra’s governor’s office said the murdered contractor was discovered under the same operation. The nationality of the reported free hostages is also unclear, according to Reuters.

The Baghdad U.S. embassy said it was unable to confirm the report upon Reuters’ request.

Upwards of 60 foreigners have been kidnapped and reported executed by insurgents in Iraq since the U.S. invasion of 2003, with 41 killed in 2004, 13 in 2005 and another six in 2006, according to Reuters.

Related Links:

• American Security Contractors Abducted in Iraq

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-Compiled by Al Sacco