Raad Adnan Mahmoud is a construction engineer and the director-general of the state-owned Al-Mansour Contracting, one of the largest construction firms in Iraq. He was kidnapped by gunment at a roadblock in southeastern Baghdad as he drove to work.

AMC has carried out several large reconstruction projects, including housing for the new Iraqi Army. Mr. Mahmoud is also a senior official in Iraq's Housing and Construction Ministry, which in less desperate times would seem to be a very problematic conflict of interest. A former Baath Party member, Mr. Mahmoud took part in the construction of several of Saddam Hussein's palaces.

No group has publicly claimed his kidnapping. No demands are known to have been made.