Seven kidnapping, on average, have been reported in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad every day, the pro-government Al Mashriq newspaper reports Sunday.  

"The kidnappings have increased lately and about seven cases on a daily basis in Baghdad, though many kidnappers have been arrested," the newspaper quoted police sources as saying.

Necessary procedures have been taken to end this phenomenon, and police are still studying information obtained from detained kidnappers.

The Iraqi Interior Ministry formed a committee to follow up kidnappings, while the court has sentenced kidnappers to life imprisonment.

Numerous gangs of robbery, looting, and kidnapping were believed to take advantage of the worsening security situation in the war-torn country.

However, militant groups have claimed that they have kidnapped foreigners to ask coalition nations to withdraw their troops or release Iraqi prisoners.

Over 50 foreign hostages were killed in 2004.

(Xinhua News Agency November 29, 2004)