IRAQ: Iraqis reacted with anger and disbelief yesterday to news that British-Iraqi aid worker Margaret Hassan, who worked in Iraq for three decades before she was kidnapped a month ago, had been killed by her captors.
Irish-born Ms Hassan (59) moved to Iraq more than 30 years ago after marrying an Iraqi engineer. She learnt Arabic and became a pillar of support in local communities, often helping the needy in the face of opposition during Saddam Hussein's regime.
Those who knew her, worked with her or were helped by her described Ms Hassan as a formidable woman who went about her work with determination. She helped the disabled, the orphaned and those without water or sanitation calmly and efficiently.
One of the hospitals she regularly supported was a spinal cord clinic in Baghdad run by Mr Qayder al-Chalabi, who said her loss was a huge blow to all Iraqis.
"(The killers) made a very big mistake. This was the wrong person," he said yesterday.
"I cannot imagine that these things could happen to her because she was a very humanitarian person. She felt our suffering, she understood the suffering of the Iraqi people.
Ms Hassan, who was the director of the local operation of aid organisation Care International, was kidnapped on October 19th in Baghdad as she made her way to work.
A video released to Arabic news channel Al Jazeera last week showed a hooded figure shooting a blindfolded woman in the head.
Ms Hassan's husband and British foreign office officials have said they believe the video tape is "probably genuine". Her family also say they believe Margaret Hassan is dead.
Militants have waged a campaign of kidnapping and killings to try to force US-led troops and foreigners to leave Iraq. More than 120 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq since last April and more than three dozen have been killed.
If confirmed, Ms Hassan would be the first foreign woman killed.
Several foreigners are still believed to be held, including at least one other woman, Polish-Iraqi Ms Teresa Borcz Khalifa.
Others include two American men and two French journalists.
"These people are savage beasts," said a man working close to the now shuttered Care offices in Baghdad. He asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
"The whole idea of kidnapping is completely wrong. If people want to resist the occupation they can fight American troops, not kill Iraqis or innocent foreigners," he said.
A campaign to gather information on Ms Hassan's whereabouts was recently launched in Baghdad, with a picture of her holding a sick Iraqi child posted on billboards around Baghdad.
The billboards read: "Margaret Hassan is truly a daughter of Iraq... She is against the occupation."
"She came to help us and give us prosperity," said Mr Hashim Hassan, a 41-year-old security guard. "These terrorists are outsiders ruining Iraq's image. Iraqis would not destroy their own country."
Mr Yusuf Ali (35), said attacking or kidnapping aid workers was a development that would only harm the nation.
"The enemies of Iraq are attacking power stations, oil pipelines and kidnapping foreigners and aid workers at a time when we need them most. Aid workers would be flowing into Falluja right now if they didn't fear decapitation," he said. - (Reuters)