Baghdad: Security spokesman kidnapped

BAGHDAD, March 27 (UPI) -- The civilian spokesman of Baghdad's security plan was kidnapped from his home Thursday by armed men, an Iraqi Interior Ministry official said.

Tahseen Sheikhly was taken by dozens of armed men who killed three of his security officials and set fire to his house in eastern Baghdad's Amin residential area, CNN reported Thursday. The official said three vehicles and 25 firearms were stolen from the home.

The official called the armed men "outlaws" in a reference to Shiite rebels belonging to the Mehdi Army militia of Shiite cleric Moqtada Sadr, CNN said.