Algeria pulls staff out of Iraq

The two Algerian diplomats were kidnapped in Baghdad

Algeria has withdrawn all its diplomats from Iraq following the kidnap of two of its staff last week.

"I can confirm that there are no longer any Algerian diplomats in Baghdad," said minister Abdelkader Messahel.

Algeria said the decision was a precautionary measure and was not made in response to the kidnappers' demands.

Iraq has been trying to encourage other countries to set up embassies in Baghdad, but Egypt's top envoy has already been abducted and killed.

The group al-Qaeda in Iraq claimed to have carried out both attacks.

Ali Balarousi, Algeria's top envoy to the country, and his colleague, Azzedin Belkadi, were seized in Mansour, Baghdad, on Thursday.

Pictures of what appeared to be identity papers belonging to Mr Belaroussi were posted on the internet on Monday.

Algerian Foreign Minister Mohamed Bedjaoui said his government was trying hard to get the two diplomats freed.

"The government is not sitting idle. I cannot tell you what it is doing right now, but it is doing everything it can for the two nationals to be freed," he said.