UK Journalist Abducted in Iraq

BASRA, Iraq (AP)

Gunmen abducted a British journalist from his hotel in the southern city of Basra (search) after shooting him twice in the leg, officials said Friday.

About 30 gunmen, including some dressed as police, stormed the Diyafah Hotel in Basra on Thursday, Capt. Hashem Abdullah said.

Hotel owner Mohammed Uglah said the journalist, reportedly working for the Sunday Telegraph ...

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it's never good but this is double not good.

Here we go again..

Reporter must have been on to something. Could be using this latest crisis to do a little housecleaning. Everyone knows (including the Iraqi resistance) Bushco wouldn't lift a finger to save a reporter. They shoot 'em. So why bother taking them hostage?

I guess he was going to go over to the Independent or Guardian.

Most likely they were the police.

Briton kidnapped in Iraq
13 August 2004

....Gunmen seized the journalist from a hotel in mainly Shi'ite Basra overnight.

Hours later a video tape released in the city showed a hooded militant standing next to the journalist and threatening to kill him if the attack on Najaf was not stopped.

It had been filmed by a freelance cameraman working for Reuters who was instructed to do so by the kidnappers.

"We demand the American forces withdraw from Najaf within 24 hours or we will kill this British hostage," the militant is heard saying.

"I'm a journalist, I just write about what is happening in Iraq ... (I'm) James Brandon from the Sunday Telegraph," said the visibly shaken and barechested hostage, who had a bandage around his head.

"James Brandon was in Basra filing for this Sunday's newspaper. We are pursuing his situation with the greatest concern," a spokeswoman for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper told Reuters in London. She declined further comment...

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/articles/12544120?version=1

Like oil workers and are officials there.

Witnesses: British journalist James Brandon released by Iraqi gunmen in Basra

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/ShTickers.html

'He said: "Initially I was treated roughly, but once they knew I was a journalist I was treated well and I want to say thank you to the people who kidnapped me."' -BBC Online

Apparently Moqtada Sadr negotiated his release.