Three Americans kidnapped in Iraq

Three US citizens have been kidnapped in Al-Dorah neighbourhood, in the south of the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, Al Jazeera reported.

Iraqi security forces set up checkpoints in southeast Baghdad and sent out helicopter search parties on Monday after confirming three US citizens had gone missing.

Al Jazeera correspondent in Baghdad Walid Ibrahim said Iraqi security services have been combing the area, noting that there is contradictory information regarding whether the kidnapped were originally American or American passport holders.

Al Jazeera described the missing as consultants, while other sources refer to them as trainers. Their translator has also been kidnapped.

A US official said that his country is aware of the kidnapping and is working with the Iraqi authorities in order to locate their whereabouts.

On Sunday AFP reported a senior US official as saying that the US and the Iraqi authorities are working together to find a group of Americans lost in Baghdad. It did not mention numbers.