An American civilian contractor and two Iraqi translators have been taken hostage near the southern Iraqi city of Basra.
Captain Ollie Pile, the British military spokesman, confirmed on Friday a foreign contractor had been seized, but said he could give no further details and could not confirm that two translators had also been kidnapped.
Lou Fintor, the US embassy spokesman, said he was aware of the reports.
"We are currently in the process of determining the status and welfare of the American citizen."
Mohammad al-Waili, the Basra governor, told al-Arabiya television the civilian contractor kidnapped was an American citizen of Iraqi origin, and that gunmen had seized him along with two Iraqis on Friday.
Police said the men were seized at a fake checkpoint near Hartha, around 12km north of Basra, by armed men in three cars who forced them from their vehicle.
Four Americans and an Austrian civilian contractor were kidnapped near Basra in mid-November and are still missing.