Two CBS journalists kidnapped in Iraq

Security forces have launched a search for two journalists from the US television network CBS who were kidnapped at gunpoint from their hotel in the Iraqi city of Basra.

An interior ministry spokesman said there was an intensive operation under way to find the two journalists.

According to witnesses, the journalists were led away from the Palace Sultan Hotel in the southern city of Basra at gunpoint by a gang of about ten militants on Sunday after having booked in the previous day.

A number of Iraqi and foreign journalists have been kidnapped in Iraq since the March 2003 invasion of Iraq, which is regarded as the most dangerous country in the world for media workers.

Police have put a cordon up around the hotel, searching for clues and restricting movement into and out of the premises.

The US network confirmed in a statement that two of its journalists have gone missing in Basra but gave no other details.

Basra was handed over to Iraqi control in mid-December by British forces, who are now based at a nearby airport. The British Foreign Office is investigating the incident.

The Paris-based media watchdog, Reporters Without Borders, says at least 208 journalists and media assistants have been killed in Iraq since March 2003.

Most are Iraqis who are killed by insurgent groups or militias angered by their coverage or ideologically opposed to their employers. Others have died when caught in crossfire.