2 children hostages freed after 2 years

ANBAR / IraqiNews.com: Two kids who have been held hostage for nearly two years were freed last night, a police chief in Falluja city said on Sunday. “Yesterday, police forces acted upon intelligence tips and managed to release two children, who were kidnapped two years ago,” Col. Mahmoud Fayyad told IraqiNews.com. “Nine suspects were arrested during the operation,” Col. Fayyad added. “One of the children showed signs of torture, such as cigarette burns; while the other was malnourished,” Fayyad explained. “The fathers of the two children are working for the police,” Fayyad said when asked about the motivations behind the kidnap. Ramadi, the capital of Anbar province, lies 110 km west of Baghdad. Anbar is the largest province in Iraq geographically. Encompassing much of the country’s western territory, it shares borders with Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Anbar is overwhelmingly Sunni Muslim Arab. Anbar’s main cities are Falluja, the capital Ramadi, Haditha, Hit, Aana and Rutba. SS (P) 1