Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BEIJING, Dec. 18 -- Unidentified gunmen wearing police uniforms kidnapped dozens of people after storming a branch of the Iraqi Red Crescent office in central Baghdad on Sunday.

    Red Crescent Secretary General, Mazen Abdullah called for an immediate and unconditional release of the approximately 30 victims. The Iraqi Red Crescent, the only Iraqi aid agency working in the country, has 1,000 staff members and 200,000 volunteers.

    Baghdad is plagued by daily kidnappings, many of which are carried out by armed groups on either side of the conflict between majority Shi'ites and minority Sunni Arabs.

    (Source: CCTV.com)