BRUSSELS, Oct. 19 (Xinhuanet) -- European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid Poul Nielson on Tuesday condemnedthe kidnapping of Margaret Hassan, the country director of CARE inIraq.

    In a statement issued here, Nielson said:" I am appalled to learn about the kidnapping of Margaret Hassan, the Country director of CARE in Iraq, who chose to dedicate her life to help the Iraqi people."

    "Her abduction comes as yet another blow for the humanitarian community, and for all the vulnerable Iraqis benefiting from aid programs," he said.

    CARE is a long-standing partner of the European Commission's Humanitarian department (ECHO) in Iraq, with a decade of experience in implementing EU-funded projects in the country.

    Margaret Hassan was reportedly kidnapped in Baghdad while beingdriven to work in the morning in a western neighborhood of the capital. Enditem