Australians 'kidnapped' in Iraq

Australian officials say they are urgently investigating a report that a militant group has kidnapped two Australians in Iraq.

The AFP news agency quoted a statement in the name of a group called the Islamic Secret Army giving Canberra 24 hours to withdraw its troops from Iraq.

It said two other people described as East Asians had also been abducted.

In a separate development, websites used by Islamic militants showed the apparent killing of a Turkish hostage.

In the video, the blindfolded victim identifies himself as Durmus Kumdereli, a lorry driver seized near the northern city of Mosul on 14 August.

He urges transport companies and drivers not to work in Iraq. Separate footage then purportedly shows his execution.

Turkey said last month that another hostage captured with Mr Kumdereli, named as Mustafa Koksal, had been freed.

France and Italy are continuing efforts to win freedom for their nationals kidnapped in Iraq in recent weeks.

Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini arrived in Kuwait on Monday at the start of a Middle East tour aimed at securing freedom for two female aid workers - Simona Pari and Simona Torretta - abducted on 7 September.

Meanwhile French Interior Minister Dominique de Villepin said renewed fighting in Iraq was hampering efforts to free journalists Christian Chesnot and Georges Malbrunot, who disappeared on 20 August.

'No second chance'

In their statement about the alleged Australian hostages, circulated in the Sunni city of Samarra, purported militants said they had ambushed two US military vehicles on a road between Baghdad and Mosul.

They said Australian Prime Minister John Howard had to announce the withdrawal of troops personally.

"We tell the infidels of Australia that they have 24 hours to leave Iraq or the two Australians will be killed without a second chance," the statement was reported as saying.

A spokesman for Foreign Minister Alexander Downer said the Australian government has "moving heaven and earth" to get more information.

Australia was a participant in last year's US-led invasion of Iraq and still has 850 troops there.

Australia goes to the polls on 9 October, for a general election in which Iraq has become a major issue.