AMMAN, Jordan, Oct 2, SPA -- Iraqi Interior Minister Bayan Jabrsaid Sunday that he was the target of gunmen who hadkidnapped his brother as he drove through a district in theIraqi capital. "I was their target, not my brother, because they wantedto pressure me," Jabr told Jordan's state-run Petra newsagency. In Baghdad on Saturday, the Interior Ministry confirmedthat gunmen had kidnapped Jebbar Jabr Solagh, theminister's brother, as he drove home in Baghdad's district of Sadr City, where he works as a hospitaldirector. Jabr, who began an official visit to Jordan on Friday,told reporters in Amman on Saturday that he did not knowabout the kidnapping. Speaking to Petra on Sunday, Jabr said he had offeredprotection to his brother, but that he had refused. "Hesaid he was a technocrat and had nothing to do withpolitics," Jabr said. "The terrorist aim from this action is to harm Iraq'srelations with brotherly Arab states," he added. Jabr was scheduled to hold a press conference later Sundayto outline his discussions with Jordanian officials. On Saturday, the Iraqi minister and his Jordaniancounterpart, Awni Yirfas, signed a security agreement thatenvisages closer cooperation between the two countries intightening border controls against militants and smugglers.--SPA1427 Local Time 1127 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/293675