Four Americans and an Austrian have been kidnapped from a convoy of civilians in southern Iraq, US and Iraqi sources have said.
"The convoy of 19 vehicles, operated by a Kuwaiti security service, was reportedly attacked near Basra as it headed towards Nasiriya on Thursday.
Unconfirmed reports say the Austrian has been killed and an American wounded, but details are unclear.
The foreigners taken were all security contractors. Nine civilians were freed."
It is also unconfirmed, but believed, to have occurred at a bogus checkpoint.
"Reports said British and US forces had mounted raids in the area to find the hostages.
British military spokesman Tane Dunlop told Associated Press news agency there had been a battle with gunmen but it was not known whether the kidnappers were involved.
The Crescent Security Group spokesman told AP: "I'm not sure what the British and US military have put in motion, and I don't want to release too much information in case it compromises whatever they may be doing."
I really hope they are planning on a raid..every day the hostages are not found, is a an increased chance of death.
It seems like it's every day you hear something bad out of Iraq..and every day it's still sad and a little surprising.
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