British soldiers 'kidnapped in Basra'
British defence officials are investigating reports that four or five British soldiers have been kidnapped in Basra.
The news comes after British forces launched a search for seven Italian journalists who went missing after being stopped at an Iraqi checkpoint in the city on Friday.
The TV station RAI said British soldiers in the zone had sent out a patrol to try to find the seven.
The soldiers were kidnapped on Friday night, according to an unnamed officer from the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment.
The seven Italian reporters were arrested by Iraqi authorities as they drove through the outskirts of Basra, according to a colleague.
