General Chat

A video of a senior charity worker who has been kidnapped in Baghdad has been broadcast on al-Jazeera. See below for full report but let's keep her in our prayers!!

Margaret Hassan, who is married to an Iraqi and has lived in the country for 30 years, is head of Care International's Iraq operations. Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said he was "very concerned" about the kidnapping and offered his sympathy. A Foreign Office spokesman said it is "working closely" with authorities in Iraq to establish what happened. The charity worker was kidnapped on her way to work around 0730 (0430 GMT) on Tuesday morning. She has been providing humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq in a professional career spanning more than 25 years Care International Mr Straw said: "Our thoughts and prayers go out to her, her family and her colleagues". The latest kidnapping comes less than two weeks after British contractor Ken Bigley, 62, was beheaded. In a statement, the charity said it was unaware of a motive for the kidnap of its Iraq Country Director. It said: "As far as we know, Margaret is unharmed. "She has been providing humanitarian relief to the people of Iraq in a professional career spanning more than 25 years. "Needless to say, we are doing whatever we can to secure her release. Our overwhelming concern must be for Margaret's safety." 'Disturbing development' Care International is one of the largest independent global relief and development organisations in the world. The charity operates in more than 72 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America, the Middle East and eastern Europe. Asked about the reports, Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "Obviously it is a very disturbing development and our thoughts are with her family. "She is a long time resident of Iraq, as I understand it, someone who is working extremely hard, has worked all her life for the benefit of the people of Iraq so this just demonstrates the depths to which these terrorists will go." In September two female Italian aid workers were freed after being held hostage in Iraq for three weeks. Simona Pari and Simona Torretta were seized in their Baghdad office. Kidnappings are a daily event in Iraq, with most victims being Iraqis themselves who are usually released in return for a ransom payment.

Hi Diana, why do they keep biting the hand that feeds them? do they not realise that they will not get any support, thanx for keeping us up dated on these sad stories, and of course we will pray for each and every one of them. Bev

I agree.... it's so so sad that people are risking their lives to help them and this is how they get treated!!

i know that you are all going to disagree with my comment and yes what happened to ken bigley was very upsetting and what has happened today with this charity worker trying to help people in need but they must be told before they go out to iraq the risks they take and what could happen if captured.it should be spelled out that the threat is very realxxxxx(:

Just watching the news. She has lived there for over 30 years and is married to an Iraqi, so she didn't make a decision to go out there - she was just going about her normal life - if you can call living in Iraq normal I suppose. She has dual British and Iraqi citizenship. They have made a big mistake this time. Maz. XX