GUNMEN IN UNIFORMS SEIZED 30 OR MORE IRAQI SPORTS OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL OLYMPICS CHIEF, AND THEIR BODYGUARDS IN BAGHDAD ON SATURDAY, BARELY AN HOUR AFTER PARLIAMENT VOTED TO EXTEND A STATE OF EMERGENCY, ACCORDING TO REUTRES. THE KIDNAPPINGS AT A CENTRAL BAGHDAD HALL WHERE THE OFFICIALS WERE MEETING OCCURRED DESPITE A CRACKDOWN BY IRAQI FORCES IN THE CAPITAL. PRIME MINISTER NURI AL-MALIKI'S NATIONAL UNITY GOVERNMENT IS STRUGGLING TO GET A GRIP ON WORSENING SECTARIAN VIOLENCE. LATER IN THE DAY, BOMBINGS IN A COMMERCIAL AREA OF BAGHDAD'S SOUTHERN SAIDIYA DISTRICT KILLED SEVEN PEOPLE AND WOUNDED 12, POLICE SAID. BOTH SUNNIS AND SHI'ITES LIVE IN THE AREA. POLICE AND INTERIOR MINISTRY SOURCES SAID GUNMEN WEARING BLUE CAMOUFLAGE UNIFORMS USED BY THE MINISTRY STORMED THE CENTRAL BAGHDAD HALL AT ABOUT 2 P.M. (1000 GMT) AND KILLED A BODYGUARD OF OLYMPIC COMMITTEE CHIEF AHMED AL-HADJIYA. HADJIYA AND ABOUT 20 BODYGUARDS, ALONG WITH AT LEAST EIGHT COMMITTEE OFFICIALS AND THE HALL'S GUARDS, WERE THEN BUNDLED INTO A CONVOY OF VEHICLES AND DRIVEN OFF, POLICE SOURCES SAID. POLICE SAID THE BODY OF A SECOND BODYGUARD WAS FOUND DUMPED NOT FAR FROM THE MEETING HALL. HE HAD BEEN SHOT IN THE HEAD. SEVERAL OF THE HALL'S SECURITY GUARDS WERE LATER FOUND UNHARMED.
