Ex-employee behind construction worker's Iraqi kidnapping, company claims

While Jerzy Kos, an employee of construction firm Wrocławska Jedynka, is still being held captive in Iraq, according to Rzeczpospolita there have been some "initial positive signals" as the kidnappers have demanded a ransom. "The assault was planned and it had a robbery purpose," said Krzysztof Baszniak of Jedynka's management. Indeed, various factors indicate that the kidnapping was ordered by a former accountant for the firm in Iraq, Abu Media. "Media, who formerly worked as a diplomat for Saddam Hussein in Moscow and Warsaw, offered his services in Iraq to Polish companies. Jedynka accepted his services, but gave them up after a month or two," Baszniak explained. He also added that Media claims that the company owes him money. Jedynka, which is executing a $50 million construction contract in the occupied country, does not intend to withdraw from Iraq. (Rzeczpospolita, pp. A1, A6) M.M.