Related special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- A nephew of Iraqi parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani was kidnapped on Wednesday night in northern Baghdad, a police source told Xinhua.

    The abduction occurred at about 10:30 p.m. (1830 GMT) when the car of Ahmad, al-Mashhadani's nephew, was intercepted by unidentified gunmen in a district north of Baghdad, the source said on condition of anonymity.

    The gunmen kidnapped Ahmad and left the scene immediately, the source said.

    Iraqi parliament reopened its second legislative term on Tuesday after a month-long recession amid mounting sectarian violence.

    The parliament voted to extend the state of emergency for 30 days throughout the country, except in the northern autonomous Kurdish region.

    On Wednesday, al-Mashhadani urged in a parliamentary session that Iraqi leaders had just months to mend their differences. Enditem