IRAQI POLICE STORMED A FARM NORTH OF BAGHDAD EARLY THURSDAY AND FREED AT LEAST 17 PEOPLE WHO WERE SNATCHED A DAY EARLIER IN A MASS KIDNAPPING OF ABOUT 85 WORKERS AND FAMILY MEMBERS AT THE END OF A FACTORY SHIFT, AP REPORTED. THE U.S. MILITARY THURSDAY REPORTED FOUR MARINES AND A SOLDIER WERE KILLED IN OPERATIONS SOUTH AND WEST OF BAGHDAD. NINE DAYS INTO A SECURITY CRACKDOWN IN BAGHDAD, MEANWHILE, INSURGENT AND SECTARIAN BLOODLETTING WAS MUTED, WITH NO MAJOR VIOLENT INCIDENTS REPORTED BY MIDDAY. THE FREED KIDNAP VICTIMS BROUGHT TO NEARLY 50 THE NUMBER OF CAPTIVES WHO HAVE BEEN EITHER RELEASED BY THEIR CAPTORS OR EXTRICATED BY POLICE. ABOUT 30 OF THE HOSTAGES, MAINLY WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WERE RELEASED SHORTLY AFTER THEY WERE TAKEN CAPTIVE. IT IS ROUTINE IN IRAQ FOR WOMEN TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN TO WORK.
