Saturday, January 7 2006 18:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Baghdad: A US woman journalist was kidnapped by gunmen in the Iraqi capital today (Jan 7,2006)and her translator killed, the latest Westerner seized by insurgents in the war-torn country.

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

Iraqi security officials said a US woman journalist was abducted by armed men in the Adl district of western Baghdad and her translator found dead.

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 seized as she was on her way to interview prominent Sunni Arab politician Adnan al-Dulaimi.

A guard outside Dulaimi's office told sources he heard gunshots fired a short distance away and rushed to find the body of a slain man.

Dulaimi however told sources he had no appointment to meet a Western journalist.

People living in the neighbourhood, which has been cordoned off by US and Iraqi security forces, were frightened and refused to talk to journalists.

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.