Apparent Western woman's body found in Iraq

updated 3:25 p.m. ET Nov. 14, 2004

FALLUJAH, Iraq - U.S. Marines on Sunday found the mutilated body of what they believe was a Western woman during a sweep of a street in central Fallujah.

The body was lying in the street covered with a blood-soaked cloth. Marines fear the body may have been boobytrapped and called in dogs to sniff for explosives.

Although the body had not been examined carefully, a Marine officer said on condition of anonymity he was “80 percent sure” the victim was a Western woman.

Two Western women are known to have been kidnapped in Iraq.

Margaret Hassan, 59, director of CARE international in Iraq, was abducted Oct. 19. Teresa Borcz Khalifa, 54, a Polish-born longtime resident of Iraq, was seized last month.

Kidnappers of both demanded, among other things, that foreign troops leave Iraq.

In Warsaw, Polish Foreign Ministry spokesman Aleksander Checko said diplomats knew of the report and were seeking more information.

MORE FROM MIDEAST & N. AFRICA

Mideast & N. Africa Section Front

Iran: U.N. station near border is for spying   Palestinians fake cancer to flee blockaded Gaza Palestinian files $110M libel suit over ‘Bruno’ Iraq shakes up security after bombings Ukraine OK’s $2.5 billion arms deal with Iraq Man, dog thought dead survive Baghdad blast Iran: Students, militia clash for 2nd day Mideast & N. Africa Section Front   Add Mideast & N. Africa headlines to your news reader: