Basescu is coordinates operation group
Romanian president Traian Basescu summoned operation meeting at Cotroceni Palace yesterday at 11:00 a.m. The meeting was meant to get control of, analyze and start action to release the three Romanian journalists who vanished in the Iraqi capital Monday evening. Heads of the main Romanian secret services - SRI (the Romanian Secret Service), SIE (the Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service) and DIA (the Army Information Department) were present, as well as presidential councilors for both foreign and internal affairs, says presidency press release. They created an operation group coordinated by president Traian Basescu. It is to function during the entire process of investigation, analysis and action meant to find missing journalists alive as soon as possible. State institutions with attributions in the field are in active collaboration to find where the kidnapped journalists are and release them sound and safe. President Traian Basescu is assuring Romanians that Romania has got both will and power to protect citizens, press release also mentioned.
All state structures alerted
When he returned from Iraq on Monday night the head of stated said state structures were alerted and determined to solve the disappearance of the three Romanian journalists. While in the plane he contacted the allies' secret services for information. Basescu mentioned: " Right now all state structures have been alerted and they are determined to solve this problem. While in the place, we contacted not only the Romanian secret services, but also the allied services and tried to learn how things really are." (A.H.)
Kidnapped from the hotel by 40 face-covered abductors
ZIUA information says the two Romanian journalists who left for Iraq on their own on Tuesday, April 22, were kidnapped just after leaving the Romanian Embassy in Baghdad and were on their way to the hotel, The Romanian Embassy is situated on Arassat Al-Hindia Street, outside the security "green area" set by the US Army. Other information we got yesterday from Antena 1 TV reporter Mile Carpenisan claims that 40 under cover agents set ambush right inside the hotel.
Al-Zarqawi admits it
Yesterday Mile Carpenisan reported to Europa FM radio post. He said the toughest news on the fate of the thee kidnapped journalists was that the troops of Islamist Al-Zarqawi admitted kidnapping. He claimed the news was confirmed by sources from the Multinational Force Center in Baghdad, as well as by Romanian Army representative Colonel Ion Voicu. One employee of Mayflower Hotel hosting the three journalists has already been arrested, as he is suspected of having delivered the Romanians to the Islamist group.
BBC rumor
Yesterday BBC was voicing rumor that the disappearance of their Romanian colleagues was more of a game played by some foreign secret service interested in compromising Romanian president Traian Basescu or making his popularity do down, as he was a reliable ally of the US. (Victor RONCEA)
PM confirms kidnapping, the Government withdraws it
While visiting Pitesti yesterday, PM Calin Popescu Tariceanu stated in the afternoon that Romanian authorities were doing their best "to bring back alive the three journalists kidnapped in Iraq". The Romanian PM said he was worried about the fate of the three journalists and that state institutions would do their duty. Tariceanu mentioned: " I want to outline that just after we have learnt the news on the disappearance of the three journalists, in the Foreign Affairs Ministry we have created a crisis operation cell that made all state institutions become active, mainly the information services, in order to get as many information about the disappearance as possible." On Monday night Tariceanu was announcing: " So far there is no official communique of authors admitting kidnapping. Therefore today we can't be sure and clear about kidnapping. But I can tell you that by diplomat and more means we are watching what is going on in the area and we are waiting for official news and confirmations. (...)"