Terrorists abduct 18 Govt employees in Iraq

A Sunni Muslim militant group kidnapped 18 Iraqi government employees in response to the alleged rape last month of a Sunni woman by Shiite policemen, according to a statement and photos posted today on the Internet.

The statement was signed by the Islamic State of Iraq, a Sunni group with ties to Al-Qaeda.

"This blessed operation is a response of crimes carried out by those infidels in their fight against the Sunnis," the statement said.

"The latest of the crimes committed by these traitors was to rape our sister in religion," it said.