Security forces seal town; reports of hostage-taking exaggerated

Monday, April 18, 2005

NEAR MADAIN, Iraq -- Iraqi security forces backed by U.S. troops had the town of Madain surrounded Sunday after reports of Sunni militant kidnappings of as many as 100 Shiites residents, but there were growing indications the incident had been grossly exaggerated, perhaps an outgrowth of a tribal dispute or political maneuvering.

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