MOSCOW, June 19 (RIA Novosti) - Russia's Foreign Ministry said Monday that it was checking media reports that an extremist group linked to al-Qaeda was responsible for the abduction of four diplomats in the Iraqi capital earlier this month.
A Web site often used by terrorists claimed earlier in the day that the Mujahideen Shura Council, a group linked to the Iraq wing of al-Qaeda, had kidnapped the embassy employees on June 3.
One Russian diplomat was killed and four others kidnapped when unidentified gunmen attacked a Russian embassy car in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad. The kidnappers have yet to make ransom or other demands for the hostages' freedom.
