(October 31, 2006)—Iraqi forces carried out a raid Tuesday in the Sadr City area of Baghdad and detained three suspected terrorists in the search for a missing soldier from the 4th Infantry Division’s Task Force Baghdad.

The soldier, who is of Iraqi descent and who is reportedly married to an Iraqi woman, has been missing since he was kidnapped from the home of a relative on Oct. 30.

He served as a translator.

The raid targeted the leadership of an alleged kidnapping cell reported to have information about the whereabouts of the soldier, the military said.

Even as the raid was in progress, US troops were dismantling the barriers and checkpoints set up in Sadr City after the soldier was abducted.

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki ordered the checkpoints removed earlier Tuesday, saying they should only be used during nighttime curfew hours and emergencies.

The order is seen as al-Maliki's latest move to assert his authority with the US and appeal to his Shiite base.

Al-Maliki issued his order after Shiite militiamen shut down access to much of Sadr City, protesting the US military's two-month-old security crackdown.

Click Here For U.S. Central Command Web Site

Click Here For Multi-National Force Web Site

Click Here For 1st Cavalry Division Web Site

Click Here For 4th Infantry Division Web Site

More News >>Sports >> Weather >>