Iraq's president condemns kidnapping of German woman
Iraqi President Jalal Talabani today condemned the kidnapping of a German woman, pledging he would do what he could to secure her release.
Susanne Osthoff and her Iraqi driver were seized last Friday, and were pictured in a videotape blindfolded on a floor, with militants, one armed with a rocket propelled grenade.
The militants are reportedly demanding that Germany cease its dealings with Talabani’s government or they will kill the hostages.
Germany was an ardent opponent of the US-led invasion of Iraq and has refused to send troops there, but has been training Iraqi soldiers and police outside the country.
“I deeply abhor this act of terror, and give my deepest sympathy and solidarity to the family and friends of those kidnapped,” Talabani was quoted as saying by Germany’s Neuen Osnabruecker Zeitung newspaper.
Meanwhile Wolfgang Bosbach, a senior member of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Christian Democrats, said the incident showed that Germany was not immune from terrorism.
“It would be fatal to think, simply because we were not militarily involved in the Iraq war, that we’re on the safe side,” Bosbach told the Netzeitung.
