BAGHDAD, Jan 19: Fifteen people were killed in two bomb blasts in Baghdad on Thursday as a search got under way for 35 kidnapped Iraqi police volunteers and concern grew over the fate of an American journalist being held hostage. A suicide bomber walked into a cafe where he blew himself up, killing 12 civilians and causing numerous injuries. Seconds later a car bomb killed three policemen nearby.

Meanwhile, US and Iraqi forces were searching the desert north of Baghdad for 35 people who were returning home by bus after having failed to be accepted as police recruits.

Police General Malik al Khezraji said ‘eight cars and minibuses loaded with dozens of gunmen held up the bus and took the men into the desert’ on Monday night.

The justice ministry announced that six Iraqi women detainees would be freed in the coming days after their cases had been considered by a review board.—AFP