TIKRIT, Iraq, Nov. 29 (Xinhuanet) -- Unknown gunmen kidnapped six Iranian pilgrims and their Iraqi guide in northern Iraq, a source at the joint US and Iraqi coordination office in Tikrit told Xinhua on Tuesday.

   "Four men and two women Iranian Shiite pilgrims were kidnapped Monday night in the town of Balad, when unidentified armed men opened fire at their minibus and forced them to stop," the source said on condition of anonymity.

   An Iraqi female guide was kidnapped along with the Iranians and the Iraqi driver of the minibus was wounded in Balad, some 80 km north of Baghdad, the source said.

   Earlier reports said four foreign aid workers including two Canadians, a Briton and an American were abducted by unknown gunmen in Baghdad on Saturday.

   The British and Canadian governments have confirmed the kidnapping.

   More than 220 foreigners have been kidnapped in Iraq since the US-led invasion of Iraq in March 2003 and nearly 40 of them were killed. Enditem