LONDON, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- The head of Care International's Iraq operations was kidnapped in Baghdad early Tuesday morning, the organization said.

    Margaret Hassan, with dual British-Iraqi nationality, was born in Britain and is married to an Iraqi. She has lived in Iraq for 30 years.

    A Care International spokeswoman said: "We do want to stress that she is an Iraqi national, not a Briton. She has been living there for many years."

    In response, British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said: "I havealso received reports to that effect and 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 she is someone who is working extremely hard, has worked all her life forthe benefit of the people of Iraq so this just demonstrates the depths to which these terrorists will go," said Hoon.

    A British Foreign Office spokesman said they were urgently seeking to establish what had happened.

    "The (British) embassy (in Baghdad) is urgently seeking to establish what has happened and is working closely with the Iraqi authorities," he added.

    CARE International is one of the largest independent global relief and development organizations in the world. The charity operates in more than 72 countries in Asia, Africa, Latin America,the Middle East and eastern Europe. It has 30 employees in its Baghdad office.

    This kidnapping comes less than two weeks after British contractor Ken Bigley, 62, was abducted and subsequently beheaded. Enditem