(Xinhua Photo)

Television image aired April 13, 2004 by Arabic television Al Jazeera shows Italian hostages held by an Iraqi Islamist group which demanded that Italy withdraw its forces from Iraq. The four men in civilian clothes were shown seated on the ground and holding up their passports, surrounded by gunmen whose faces were covered by traditional Arab headscarves. (China Daily/Reuters)

    ROME, April 13 (Xinhuanet) -- 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. Enditem