BUCHAREST, April 11 (Xinhuanet) -- The three Romanian journalists kidnapped more than two weeks ago in Iraq are still alive and the Romanian authorities are optimistic about their situation, the presidential office said on Monday.

    Adriana Saftoiu, spokeswoman for President Traian Basescu, told reporters that the authorities are collecting various information about the three journalists and are trying to save their lives. The spokeswoman gave no details on why the government believed they are still alive, and offered no further information. Romania's Prima TV said its reporter Marie-Jeanne Ion, cameraman Sorin Dumitru Miscoci and reporter Ovidiu Ohanesian from the daily Romania Libera were abducted in Baghdad on March 28. The kidnapping took place just one day after Basescu's visit to the 800 Romanian soldiers serving in Iraq, during which the president announced a reinforcement of 100 soldiers to country. No group has so far claimed responsibility for the kidnapping and no ransom has been demanded.

    More than 150 foreigners have been abducted in Iraq over the past year. Most were subsequently freed after negotiations or payment of ransom, but about a third have been killed. Many more Iraqis have also been abducted, often for ransom. Enditem