Militants have kidnapped two relatives of Iraqi Defence Minister Hazim al-Shalaan and demanded US forces leave the holy city of Najaf, Al Jazeera television reported today.
It showed footage of the two men kneeling in front of masked militants, but no audio could be heard. Al Jazeera said the group calling itself the "Brigades of God's Anger" demanded that Iraqi police free Mr Ali Smeisim, an aide to rebel Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr.