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| Iraq hostages 'freed by police' | Iraq hostages 'freed by police' |
| (about 10 hours later) | |
| Most of the hostages seized in a raid by gunmen on a Baghdad higher education facility have been released, Iraqi officials have said. | |
| A government spokesman told the BBC that the hostages were freed in a number of police raids across the city. | A government spokesman told the BBC that the hostages were freed in a number of police raids across the city. |
| Five top officers were later held - including the police chief of Karrada district where the abductions occurred. | Five top officers were later held - including the police chief of Karrada district where the abductions occurred. |
| It had earlier been reported all of the hostages had been released. Police say they are trying to free more people. | |
| Gunmen dressed in uniforms similar to those worn by Iraqi police abducted dozens of people. | |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | Reports said that there were about 40 still in captivity when the police operation set them free. |
| Quick guide: Iraq violence Kidnapping stokes fears | 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. | 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 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. | 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. | The attackers stormed the education ministry's research department, locked women in a room and took the men away. |
| The daylight abduction and the use of apparently genuine government uniforms prompted questions about official involvement in the operation. | The daylight abduction and the use of apparently genuine government uniforms prompted questions about official involvement in the operation. |
| The five senior police officers held later on Tuesday were questioned by the interior minister, reports said. | The five senior police officers held later on Tuesday were questioned by the interior minister, reports said. |
| Militias 'in conflict' | Militias 'in conflict' |
| Baghdad has been plagued by sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia communities, with so-called "death squads" regularly said to have strong links to elements of the Shia-dominated government. | Baghdad has been plagued by sectarian violence between Sunni and Shia communities, with so-called "death squads" regularly said to have strong links to elements of the Shia-dominated government. |
| The building appears to have been a soft target for kidnappersMany of those seized from the higher education institute were said to have been driven towards Shia areas of Baghdad. | The building appears to have been a soft target for kidnappersMany of those seized from the higher education institute were said to have been driven towards Shia areas of Baghdad. |
| Mr Maliki said the abductions were part of ongoing disputes among groups linked to various political factions. | |
| "What is happening is not terrorism, but the result of disagreements and conflict between militias belonging to this side or that," the Associated Press reported him as saying. | |
| The attack on the higher-education institute was the latest to target Iraq's academics, who are increasingly fleeing the country in the face of the violence. | The attack on the higher-education institute was the latest to target Iraq's academics, who are increasingly fleeing the country in the face of the violence. |
| In other developments: | In other developments: |
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