Mass kidnap by gunmen in Baghdad

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Makki urged the prime minister and ministers of interior and defense to respond rapidly. The higher education minister immediately ordered all universities closed until security improvements are made.

The minister is a member of the main Sunni Arab political bloc. Most ministries have become fiefdoms of particular parties.

The abductions appear to be the boldest in a series of killings and other attacks on Iraqi academics. The violence is driving thousands of professors and researchers to flee to neighboring countries.

 

Editor:Sun Luying