Militant group says kindnaps American in West Bank

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L11810959.htm

RAMALLAH, West Bank, Oct 11 (Reuters) - Palestinian security officials said on Wednesday they were investigating reports that a previously unknown militant group in the occupied West Bank had kidnapped a U.S. student.

The group, calling itself Ansar Assuna, said Michael Phillips, 24, had been seized in the West Bank city of Nablus. The group faxed to Reuters a copy of Phillips's passport, Israeli entry visa and student identification card.

Nablus Governor Kamal Sheikh said Phillips was working as an English teacher with Project Hope, a local charity catering to underprivileged Palestinian children. Sheikh quoted a member of the charity as saying Phillips went missing at 5 p.m. (1500 GMT)