Iraq opens investigation into kidnapping of Israeli citizen Tsurkov

PHOTO CAPTION: Illustrative photo of Iraqi security forces (REUTERS/Ahmed Saad)

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - The Iraqi government has opened an investigation into the kidnapping of Israeli citizen Elizabeth Tsurkov in Baghdad in March, a government spokesperson told Reuters on Friday.

Tsurkov went missing after going to Iraq for research purposes on behalf of Princeton University, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said on Wednesday.

The office said that she is being held there by Shiite militia Kataib Hezbollah, a group backed by Iran.

"Elizabeth Tsurkov is still alive and we see Iraq as responsible for her fate and well being," the statement said, adding that the situation is being handled by the relevant bodies in Israel.

The Iraqi spokesperson said the government was waiting for the results of the investigation and had no further comment. A spokesperson for Kataib Hezbollah could not be reached.



(Reporting by Timour Azhari; Writing by Tala Ramadan; editing by John Stonestreet and Philippa Fletcher)