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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Iraq hostages 'freed by police' | Iraq hostages 'freed by police' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| All of the hostages seized in a raid by gunmen on a Baghdad higher education facility have been released, Iraqi officials say. | All of the hostages seized in a raid by gunmen on a Baghdad higher education facility have been released, Iraqi officials say. |
| A government spokesman told the BBC that the hostages were freed in a number of police raids across the city. | |
| Gunmen dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by Iraqi police abducted dozens of people. | Gunmen dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by Iraqi police abducted dozens of people. |
| Five top officers were later arrested - including the police chief of Karrada district where the abductions occurred. | Five top officers were later arrested - including the police chief of Karrada district where the abductions occurred. |
| About 20 of the abductees had been released earlier on Tuesday evening. | About 20 of the abductees had been released earlier on Tuesday evening. |
| The rest of the hostages were said to have been freed shortly before midnight in Baghdad (2100 GMT), according to presidential security adviser Wafiq al-Sammarai. | |
| Daylight raid | |
| Initial estimates had suggested that more than 100 people had been seized, but that was later revised down throughout the day. | Initial estimates had suggested that more than 100 people had been seized, but that was later revised down throughout the day. |
| Reports said that there were about 40 still in captivity when the police operation set them free. | |
| Quick guide: Iraq violence Kidnapping stokes fears | |
| Some of the men released earlier in the evening said they had not been taken far, and had certainly not left Baghdad. | |
| They were seized by at least 20 gunmen who posed as interior ministry police to seal off the street and gain entry to the higher education ministry. | |
| They wore uniforms recently issued to officers which were thought to be difficult to copy. | |
| The attackers stormed the education ministry's research department, locked women in a room and took the men away. | |
| It was the latest attack to target Iraq's academics, who are increasingly fleeing the country in the face of the violence. | |
| In other developments: | |
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