60 foreigners seized by militants in Iraq

Turkey's Foreign Ministry says its embassy in Baghdad is looking into reports that Islamic militants in Iraq have abducted 60 foreign construction workers near the city of Kirkuk.

The private Dogan news agency said today that militants of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant seized the group near Kirkuk, where they were building a hospital.

It said others abducted are from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Turkmenistan. The agency based its report on an unnamed worker who was reportedly freed by the militants.
The Foreign Ministry could not immediately confirm the report but said its embassy was investigating.

Last week, militants from the al-Qaida inspired group seized 49 people from the Turkish consulate in Mosul and 31 Turkish truck drivers.