Iraq soldier killed in search for Turk abduction suspect

Islamic State has kidnapped dozens of Turks in northern Iraq over the past 18 months

BAGHDAD: An Iraqi soldier was killed in clashes with gunmen as security forces searched for a suspect in the abduction of 18 Turkish workers, the Baghdad security command said Friday.

The Turkish employees of construction company Nurol Insaat were seized Wednesday in the Sadr City area of north Baghdad, where they were working on a football stadium project.

Intelligence information indicated that "one of the members of the gang that carried out the kidnapping" was on Baghdad's Palestine Street, the Baghdad Operations Command said in a statement.

"Forces moved to search and inspect in Palestine Street, but were fired on by armed men who tried to intercept them, resulting in the martyrdom of a soldier and the wounding of three others," it said of the overnight operation.

Read: Turkey confirms 18 construction workers kidnapped in Baghdad

It did not identify the gunmen, but al Etejah television station, which is affiliated with the Shia militia Ketaeb Hezbollah, said one of the group's facilities had come under attack.

A Ketaeb Hezbollah source was quoted as saying the Baghdad Operations Command had targeted a Ketaeb Hezbollah headquarters in a raid on Palestine Street.

A resident of Palestine Street said the clashes broke out after security forces deployed around the Ketaeb Hezbollah headquarters at about 9:00pm on Thursday and that the fighting lasted for several hours.

Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi had earlier accused "the corrupt and those involved in organised crime" of being behind the kidnappings, saying he had issued "orders to deal with those people" like terrorists.

The Islamic State group has kidnapped dozens of Turks in northern Iraq over the past 18 months and later released them, but the latest abductions took place in Sadr City, a stronghold of Shia paramilitary forces.

Baghdad turned to mostly Shia volunteer forces for support as IS advanced towards the capital in June last year, and they have played a key role in halting and then reversing the militants' gains.

But in doing so, the Iraqi government empowered Shia militias, some with chequered human rights records, and spurred the creation of new ones, allowing them to act with near-impunity despite them officially falling under government command.

Some fighters linked to the militias stand accused of criminal activities, including kidnappings as well as property seizures and murders.

Kidnappings for ransom are a persistent problem in Baghdad, although political motives are also possible.

Read: Turkish jets join US-led coalition strikes on Islamic State

Ankara has been accused of complacency towards IS and complicity in assisting the militant group, which also holds substantial territory in common neighbour Syria.

Turkey backs the mostly-Sunni rebel forces battling to overthrow Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, while Iraqi Shia forces have fought alongside his regime.