Two relatives of Iraqi interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi have been kidnapped in Baghdad.
The prime minister's spokesman says Mr. Allawi's cousin, 75-year-old Ghazi Allawi, and Ghazi's daughter-in-law were seized Tuesday evening. He said the elder Allawi has no connection with any political party.
A previously unknown group Ansar al-Jihad has claimed responsibility for the abductions and has threatened to behead the two hostages in 48 hours unless the assault on Fallujah ends and all Iraqi prisoners are released.
Meanwhile, in the northern city of Mosul, the governor's office has imposed a curfew after clashes broke out between authorities and gunmen.
Elsewhere, the U.S. military says an American soldier was killed and another wounded in a roadside bomb blast in Balad, north of Baghdad.
Farther north near Tuz, roadside bombs killed six Iraqi soldiers.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.