Gunmen in police commando uniforms kidnapped 17 people, including women and children, on Wednesday, an Interior Ministry source said.

"Unknown gunmen wearing police commando uniforms and in five vehicles stormed at about 4:20 p.m. (1220 GMT) a residential building in Karrada neighborhood and dragged 17 people into their vehicles before they fled the scene," the source told Xinhua on condition of anonymity.

The victims were 10 men, five women and two children, the source said.

In another development, Iraqi police found the body of Brigadier Abdullah Hmoud Shhatha, head of Residency Department, who was abducted earlier in the day.

Earlier in the day, a ministry source said that unknown gunmen snatched Shhatha at about 8:00 a.m. (0400 GMT) while he was heading to work in Baghdad's northern Shaab neighborhood.

His body was found near Husseiniyah area in northern Baghdad.

Meanwhile, gunmen ambushed a police patrol in Baghdad's eastern Khazaliyah neighborhood, killing Lie. Col. Khazum Briesam and wounding four policemen, according to the source.

Armed men also abducted Said Jabir, head of Husseiniyah area, and freed him later, the source said, without giving further details.

Insurgents frequently attack Iraq's fledgling security forces, particularly high-ranking officers, accusing them of collaborating with U.S. occupation forces.

Source: Xinhua