Iraq Red Cross workers kidnapped

Iraq: "At least 30 aid workers and other people have been abducted from an Iraqi Red Crescent office in Baghdad as Tony Blair, the British prime minister, made a surprise visit to the country.

Armed men took the employees, visitors and security guards away on Sunday, according to a Red Crescent official and witnesses...Police said up the group was abducted by men wearing Iraqi army uniforms in the Karrada area of the capital.

The Iraqi Red Crescent, which is part of the International Committee of the Red Cross, is the only Iraqi aid agency working in all of the country's 18 provinces and has around 1,000 staff and 200,000 volunteers in the country. There have been several mass abductions in Baghdad in recent months. More. + Gunmen free 17 seized at Baghdad Red Crescent office

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Captain (Capt) Marois, the acting Officer Commanding of the ISTAR squadron, with his signaler, Sergeant (Sgt) Hermiston, inform their command post on the security arrangements for the meeting with village elders near Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sperwan Ghar to discuss the security in the region.

Joint Task Force Afghanistan (JTF-Afg) is Canada’s contribution to NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan. The focus of this mission is to help Afghans rebuild their lives, families, communities and nation. Canadian Forces personnel in Afghanistan are working to improve the quality of life of Afghans by providing a more secure environment in which Afghan society can recover from more than 25 years of conflict. The Canadian Forces (CF) contribution in Afghanistan comprises about 2,500 soldiers, most of whom serve in Kandahar province with a smaller number of personnel assigned to Kabul, various military headquarters, and civilian organizations.


Corporal (Cpl) Killeen, a medical assistant, renders first aid to an Afghan soldier near Forward Operating Base (FOB) Sperwan Ghar.


Master Bombardier (MBdr) Munro observes possible targets from Ma'Sum Ghar. MBdr Munro is a member of a Forward Observation Officer (FOO) party working in and around the Panjwayi area.


Canadian Leopard C2 tanks and their crews stand-by as a Blackhawk helicopter takes-off from Forward Operating Base (FOB) Ma'Sum Ghar near the town of Bazaar-e-Panjwayi.