Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    BAGHDAD, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of al-Qaida gunmen in Iraq attacked the house of a tribal chieftain in Diyala province, northeast of Baghdad, kidnapping him and 13 of his family members, a provincial police source said on Sunday.

    "Dozens of the Qaida gunmen stormed the house of Sheik Dhari Wahab al-Mandeel, a key leader of the Obeid clan in the Tahwilah village near the town of Khalis on Saturday night," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

    The attackers critically wounded Mandeel's son and his daughter in law and kidnapped Mandeel and 13 others of his family members, the source said.

    Mandeel's house and several nearby houses were damaged and some were burned when the gunmen opened fire on them, he said.

    The Iraqi police said that they believe that the motive behind the attack was that Mandeel was preparing to form a local Awakening Council militia to fight the al-Qaida network in Iraq.