Ms. Hassan, 52, was one of the few Western nationals still working for a relief agency in Iraq.

She lashed out against Iraq's stated plans to use Western nationals as negotiating pawns and as human shields against possible attacks.

The group is known for its kidnappings of Western nationals and Filipinos, for which it has received several large ransom payments.

Their sphere of influence includes areas where Iranian-backed fundamentalists believed to be holding 8 Americans and 10 other Western nationals are thought to operate.

I believe the Brzezinski "squeeze option" was destroyed in the past few days by the Iraqi decision to hold Western nationals as hostages.

On 15 December 2010 a vehicle belonging to Western nationals was targeted by an explosive device while in the Haddah district of Sana'a.

Two chartered British planes picked up 240 British and other Western nationals in Kuwait, along with the single American, who declined to identify himself.

The troops from France and Belgium will protect Western nationals and will not take sides in the fighting, officials said.

Most Western nationals don't need a visa; South Africans are among those that do.

Five other Western nationals had been arrested for alleged border offences in August and September [see pp. 39069; 39116].