Missing aid workers 'probably' held by Iraqis: Medecins Sans Frontiers

PARIS (AFP) Apr 08, 2003
Two members of the aid agency Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders, MSF) missing in Baghdad since Wednesday are probably being held by the Iraqis, the organisation said.

It called on the Iraqi authorities to "do whatever is within their power to allow a quick and positive end to this situation."

MSF identified the two as François Calas, 43, the French head of a six-strong team that had been working in Baghdad for several weeks, and Ibrahim Younis, 31, a logistical support worker from Sudan.

The four other members of the team, which had been working with medical staff at the city's Al-Kindi hospital, are still in the Iraqi capital, MSF said in a statement Monday.

MSF announced Friday it had suspended its activities in Iraq after the two went missing on Wednesday night.

The organisation won the 1999 Nobel Peace Prize for its aid work around the world.

SPACE.WIRE