Sunni militants take as many as 100 Shiite Muslims hostage

• "BAGHDAD, Iraq (AP) -- Iraqi security forces surrounded a central Iraqi village Sunday after Sunni militants took as many as 100 Shiite Muslims hostage and threatened to kill the captives if other Shiites did not leave town. The explosive sectarian standoff played out, as 17 people -- including an American soldier -- were killed in insurgent attacks elsewhere in Iraq. Late Saturday, insurgents fired mortar rounds at a U.S. Marine base near Ramadi, 70 miles west of Baghdad, the military said, adding that there were no American casualties. Residents said dozens of armed fighters moved through the city after dark. They reported loud explosions when the militants tried to force their way into Camp Blue Diamond and said there were casualties among the attackers. "

This is a big problem. The result of this will be bloody.

UPDATE
Fox is reporting Iraqi Security Forces Free Hostages in Raid

• BAGHDAD, Iraq — Iraqi security forces raided a village in central Iraq on Sunday where Sunni terrorists were holding dozens of Shiite Muslims hostage and threatening to kill them unless all Shiites left the area, an Iraqi official said.