40 Indian workers kidnapped in Iraq: government

Iraqi Shiite tribal fighters raise their weapons and chant slogans against the al-Qaida-inspired Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, after authorities urged Iraqis to help battle insurgents, in Baghdad's Sadr city. AP photo

India said Wednesday that 40 Indians working for a Turkish construction company have been abducted from violence-hit Iraq.

The external affairs ministry did not say who had seized the workers although earlier media reports blamed it on the Sunni insurgents who have seized key cities in Iraq.

A ministry spokesman said the workers mostly belonged to the country's northern states such as Punjab and worked for Tariq Noor al Huda company.

He said no ransom call had been received and the Iraq Red Crescent had "indicated to us that they were kidnapped". He said their current location was not known.