Red Cross Iraqi staffer killed near Baghdad

GENEVA, Jan 15 (AFP) - An Iraqi working for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has been killed west of Baghdad, the organisation said from its headquarters here Saturday.
"The staff member, an Iraqi national, disappeared while on duty on January 13," said an ICRC statement.
"His body was found yesterday (Friday). The circumstances of this tragic incident remain unclear."
The name of the victim was not immediately released.
The statement said he was a man in his forties, married with four children, who had begun working for the ICRC as a driver in July 2003.
"The ICRC condemns this killing in the strongest terms," the statement continued. "Profoundly distressed by the death of one of its employees, the organization and its staff extend their heartfelt sympathy to his family and friends."
"The ICRC firmly calls upon all armed persons and groups to ensure the safety of its staff and to allow them to carry out the organizations humanitarian duty," it urged.

01/15/2005 17:59 GMT - AFP