BAGHDAD — An Iraqi soldier was killed in clashes with gunmen as security forces searched for a suspect behind the kidnappings of 18 Turkish workers, the military said Friday.



The Turkish employees of construction company Nurol Insaat were seized Wednesday in the Sadr City area of north Baghdad, where they were working on a football stadium project.



Intelligence information had located "one of the members of the gang that carried out the kidnappings" in Baghdad's Palestine Street, the security command responsible for the capital said.



"Forces moved to search and inspect in Palestine Street, but were fired on by armed men who tried to intercept them, resulting in the martyrdom of a soldier and the wounding of three others," it said of the overnight operation. — AFP