US journalist kidnapped in Iraq

Baghdad: A US journalist was kidnapped by gunmen in the Iraqi capital on Saturday and her translator was found dead.

"An American journalist is missing. We are investigating," said US embassy spokeswoman Elizabeth Colton, who declined to name the missing reporter.

An Iraqi Defence Ministry official said the interpreter was able to tell soldiers that a US journalist was kidnapped before he died.

Officials said the journalist was abducted when she was on her way to interview prominent Sunni Arab politician Adnan al-Dulaimi.

Al-Dulaimi, however has said that he had no appointment with a journalist.

Several Westerners are already being held hostage by insurgents in Iraq, including an American, a Briton and two Canadians, all members of a Christian peace group.

The latest kidnapping came as British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw held talks with Iraqi leaders, urging them to set up an inclusive government in the wake of the December 15 general election.

The country is still awaiting the final results of the election.

Violence surged this week in Iraq with 200 people killed, many in attacks on the country's Shiite majority that sparked renewed fears of a sectarian backlash.