Eight Chinese nationals have been abducted in Iraq, the Chinese embassy in Baghdad has confirmed.
Iraqi insurgents released a video showing the men, and said they were employed by a construction company working with US troops.
A group calling itself the Numan Brigade said it had abducted the men, who were shown holding their passports.
More than 120 foreigners have been taken hostage in Iraq since the US-led occupation began in 2003.
News agencies reported that the abductors were threatening to shoot their hostages within 48 hours unless Beijing "clarifies its role" in Iraq.
China was strongly opposed to the US-led war in Iraq.
But the Associated Press news agency said that the group's statement suggested the men could be freed, as long as they did not return to work for "occupation forces" in Iraq.
The workers are from Fujian province in south-eastern China and had been rebuilding an Iraqi plant, China's state news agency Xinhua said.
Government spokesman Kong Quan said Beijing was actively taking all measures to secure the release of the kidnapped men.
"China is deeply concerned over this event. We hope they will be safely released as soon as possible," the foreign ministry said in a statement.
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