Beijing: Seven Chinese citizens have been kidnapped by armed men in Central Iraq, State media reported today (Apr 12, 2004).

The seven Chinese entered Iraq via Jordan yesterday morning (Apr 11, 2004) and were most probably abducted in Fallujah, West of Baghdad, Xinhua news agency quoted a Chinese diplomat as saying.

The seven people, all male, were from China's Southeastern Fujian province, he said, adding that the oldest is 49 years old and the youngest is 18.

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.

The Chinese were said 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 border and the Iraqi capital have been closed by US forces besieging Fallujah for the "operation vigilant resolve".

The captives were in good health and not handcuffed, but it remained unclear what the kidnappers will do with them, some unidentified foreigners were quoted as saying.

Insurgents in Iraq have claimed that they held a number of foreign citizens hostage in an effort to negotiate a cease-fire or a full withdrawal of occupying troops.

China, one of the five permanent members in the UN Security Council, is opposed to the military invasion of Iraq. It also refuses to send any troops to join the US-led coalition that occupies the war-ravaged country.