SEVEN CHINESE KIDNAPPED IN IRAQ

Beijing, April 12 (NNN) : Chinese media has reported the kidnapping of seven Chinese citizens by armed men in central Iraq.

The seven Chinese entered Iraq via Jordan on Sunday morning and were most probably abducted in Fallujah, west of Baghdad, Xinhua news agency quoted a Chinese diplomat as saying.

The seven, all male, were from China's south-eastern Fujian province, said the diplomat, adding that the oldest of them is 49 years old and the youngest is 18.

They were reported to have been abducted on a highway from Iraq's northern city of Mosul to Fallujah, 50 km west of Baghdad.

The roads between Jordan and the Iraqi capital have been closed by US forces.

Sun Bigan, head of the team responsible for the re-establishment of the Chinese embassy in Baghdad, said that the list of the detainees has been presented to the interim Iraqi interior ministry and all efforts will be made to locate and rescue the seven civilians.