Abducted Canadian killed in Iraq

Canada on Monday condemned the abduction and murder of a Canadian man in Iraq, and repeated its call for Canadians to stay away from the embattled nation.

Prime Minister Paul Martin's office confirmed that Zaid Meerwali, who held dual Canadian-Iraqi citizenship, was abducted on August 2 and found murdered. He had returned to Iraq several months ago to pursue a business venture.

"It is with both profound sadness and abhorrence that I learned of the circumstances of his death," Martin said in a statement on Monday.

"Canada vehemently condemns this barbaric crime, and remains committed to working to help build a prosperous and peaceful democracy in Iraq."