American kidnapped with three others in Baghdad

An American and three other foreigners were kidnapped from their Baghdad office today after “an exchange of fire”, the Iraqi Interior Ministry said.

One American, an Asian and two non-Iraqi Arabs were seized in the operation, which took place in Mansour – the Baghdad district where beheaded Briton Ken Bigley was abducted in September.

Colonel Adnan Abdul-Rahman said first reports indicated shots were fired but he didn’t know by whom.

He said the victims were believed to be working for a Saudi company but he had no further details.