On Tuesday, Shi’ite government gunmen wearing their Iraqi police commando uniforms kidnapped up to 150 staff members from a government education institute in downtown Baghdad, the head of the parliamentary education committee said.

Alaa Makki interrupted a parliamentary session to say between 100 and 150 people, both Shiites and Sunnis, had been abducted in the 9:30 a.m. raid. He urged the prime minister and ministers of interior and defence to rapidly respond to what he called a "national catastrophe."

Makki said the gunmen had a list of names of those to be taken and claimed to be on a mission from the government's Anti-Corruption Body For The Enforcement of Islamic Law.

Those kidnapped included the institute's deputy general directors, employees, and visitors, he said.

Police and witnesses said the raid began with gunmen closing off roads around the institute in the downtown Karradah district as with any proper police raid on infidels.

The Iranian foreign minister, Mottaki, said that he was going to clean up Baghdad, get rid of the godless infidel Sunnies and string the Yankees dogs along.

"We are ready to consider any kind of request but that does not mean that we would accept," Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian foreign minister said on Tuesday.

"The position of the Islamic republic is clear. We are not asking for negotiations."



Bush said when asked about the situation: "I believe it is very important ... for people making suggestions to recognise that the best military options depend on the conditions on the ground."

"Iran now rules southern Iraq and this was forecast before we invaded the place illegally on Israeli orders", he said.

"There is nothing to be done except cut and run if and when the Israelis allow us" he concluded.

digerycohen@yahoo.co.uk