Iraqis shot 'for wearing shorts'

"The coach of Iraq's tennis team and two players were shot dead in
Baghdad on Thursday, said Iraqi Olympic officials.

Coach Hussein Ahmed Rashid and players Nasser Ali Hatem and Wissam
Adel Auda were killed in the al-Saidiya district of the capital.

Witnesses said the three were dressed in shorts and were killed days
after militants issued a warning forbidding the wearing of shorts.

Other Iraqi athletes have been targeted in recent incidents.

In this case, according to accounts, the men dropped off laundry and
were then stopped in their vehicle by gunmen.

Leaflets

Two of the athletes stepped out of the car and were shot in the head,
said one witness. The third was shot dead in the vehicle.

"The gunman took the body out of the car and threw it on top of the
other two bodies before stealing the car," said the witness, who
requested anonymity.

He said leaflets had been recently distributed in the area warning
residents not to wear shorts.

Last week, 15 members of Iraq's taekwondo team were kidnapped between
Falluja and Ramadi, west of Baghdad, said a member of the Iraqi
Olympic Committee. The kidnappers have demanded $100,000 for their
release.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/middle_east/5020804.stm

Published: 2006/05/26 16:54:00 GMT