Gunmen Kidnap Workers at 'Stars & Stripes' Baghdad Plant

By: E&P Staff Stars & Stripes reported that early last Thrusday afternoon about 30 gunmen in police and business attire entered the Baghdad plant of a company that prints the military daily and, after firing into the air and at equipment, kidnapped 22 printers and press maintenance workers.

Six workers were released later in the day.

The contract-print business' owner told S&S the attack was not politically motivated but resulted instead from an ongoing business dispute. The paper added that in the past, "at least two contract drivers have been killed while on deliveries."

The plant, which also prints Iraqi newspapers, took on Stars & Stripes October 2003. Along with copies printed in other countries, the paper distributes 50,000 copies daily on bases throughout Iraq.

Stars and Stripes said it was looking into other printing arrangements.