Iraqi minister's sister released

Bayan Jabr's ministry has been embroiled in controversy

The sister of Iraq's interior minister has been freed some two weeks after being kidnapped at gunpoint, an interior ministry official has said.

Ali al-Khaqani confirmed Bayan Jabr's sister had been released, but would not say whether a ransom had been paid.

Mr Jabr's sister, Iman, 43, was travelling in north-eastern Baghdad on 3 January when she was ambushed.

Mr Jabr and his ministry came under criticism last year over alleged abuse of detainees in Iraqi prisons.

Some Sunni Arabs have also claimed that squads connected to the interior ministry and the Badr Brigades - a Shia militia in which Mr Jabr used to be a senior official - have been targeting and killing Sunnis.

Mr Jabr is a member of the country's largest Shia party, the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

It is not known if the kidnapping was politically motivated.

Three months ago, the minister's brother was abducted as he drove to work at a hospital near the Sadr City district of Baghdad. He was released the following day.