It was reported that Haswa, an employee of the Jordanian Ministry of Municipal Affairs, was kidnapped in Iraq by a group of Iraqis who demanded ransom for his release.

The spokesman said the ministry was informed by Haswa's family that he entered Iraq on Aug. 20 and was due to return home a weeklater.

However, Haswa failed to return in due time, his family said, adding that a man called them from Iraq on Aug. 27, claiming Haswa had been held captive with his Iraqi friend and threatening to kill him unless a ransom of about 140,000 US dollars was paid.

Source: Xinhua