The Italian Foreign Ministry said Tuesday four Italian security guards employed by a US company have gone missing, but the Al-Jazeera satellite TV network reported the four have been abducted by Iraqi militants.  

Qatar-based Al-Jazeera aired footage showing the four men surrounded by gunmen and reported they were kidnapped near Fallujah, west of the capital Baghdad. The Italian Foreign Ministry said the four worked for the US firm, DTS Security.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2004)