Baghdad:…Jalal Sharafi, the second secretary at the Iranian embassy in Baghdad, was snatched in the central Karrada district by 30 gunmen directed by US forces.

Mohammad Ali Hosseini, an Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, said Sharafi was seized by a group working under US supervision.



"Based on reliable information, the group which has committed this completely terrorist act, are active under the supervision of the American forces," he said.



Iran blames US



Hosseini condemned the abduction of Sharafi, adding that it holds the US responsible for his life.



"The Islamic Republic of Iran strongly condemns this aggressive act which is in violation of international law."



One Iraqi official said that Iraqi soldiers in two vehicles had intercepted a car carrying Sharafi at 6pm on Sunday in a predominantly Shia area.



The Iraqi soldiers took Sharafi to another car and sped away.



Iraqi police officers suspected that a kidnapping was taking place and opened fire on the cars, and detained some of the occupants.



Those who were detained were released on Monday at the request of the US.



US supervision



The Iraqi troops were part of an army unit that receives direct orders from the US military, the Iraqi official said, declining to be identified because of the sensitivity of the information.



The White House has authorised US troops in Iraq to kill or capture Iranian agents deemed to be a threat, saying evidence was mounting that Iran was supporting "terrorists" inside Iraq.

BUSH : "BE AN IRANIAN IN IRAQ; GET KIDNAPPED, UNLAWFULLY DETAINED, AND TORTURED !!!!!!!! THAT'S THE LAW !!!!!!!!"

"Ever they shall rue the day they ventured o'er the border....."

"Men of Harlech"

They're going home in body bags.