Alaa Thabet Lazim is a 35-year-old civil servant. He was abducted after trying to visit relatives in Al-Khadr, east of Nasiriyah. A ransom of US$15,000 was demanded by his captors; no information can be found on whether any were paid.

Mr. Lazim was rescued by Iraqi security forces. Sixteen people were arrested in the raid in conenction with his kidnapping.