Bombings, Shootings Kill 52 in Iraq

Map shows area of kidnappings and violence in Baghdad. (AP Graphic) (AP)

On Monday, gunmen dressed in military fatigues burst into the offices of the Iraqi-American Chamber of Commerce and a nearby mobile phone company, seizing 26 people in a daylight raid in a mostly Shiite area of the capital. The same day, a millionaire businessman and his two sons were abducted from their car in Baghdad.

All the victims were believed to be Iraqis. The Iraqi-American Chamber is an independent organization not affiliated with the U.S. government, and maintains branches throughout Iraq and in Amman, Jordan.

The Interior Ministry denied that the kidnappers were police _ despite the uniforms _ and blamed the attack on "terrorists," Iraqi state television reported.

U.S. officials estimate an average of 30-40 people are kidnapped each day in Iraq, although the real figure may be higher because few families contact the police. Security officials believe most of the ransoms end up in the hands of insurgent and militia groups.

Many abductions are believed to be tied to the ongoing violence between Sunni and Shiite extremists who target civilians of the rival Muslim communities.

On Monday, the government said that since February, 30,359 families _ or about 182,000 people _ had fled their homes due to sectarian violence and intimidation. That represented an increase of about 20,000 people from the number reported July 20.

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Associated Press correspondents Qais al-Bashir and Sinan Salah contributed to this report.